Former first lady Jill Biden has revealed that she feared husband Joe Biden was having a stroke during his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
The then-president, 81, stumbled over his words and appeared incoherent at several points during the now-infamous presidential debate on June 27, 2024, sparking widespread panic among Democrats and calls for him to quit the race.
Speaking to CBS News ahead of the release of her memoir, Jill Biden said that she was terrified watching the meltdown unfold live.
“I was frightened because I had never, ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never,” she said.
“I don’t know what happened. As I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke’. And it scared me to death.”
The chaotic debate performance triggered immediate fallout, with members of Mr Biden’s own party branding it an “unmitigated disaster”, “a meltdown” and a “slow-motion car crash”.
The White House later insisted that Mr Biden had been battling a cold and sore throat during the showdown.
The following day, the then president acknowledged his age while addressing supporters in North Carolina.
“I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to, I don’t walk as easy as I used to,” he admitted.
As pressure mounted, Biden retreated to Camp David — a secluded, 50.5ha country retreat reserved for presidents — with Jill and family advisers to consider his political future.
At the time, Mrs Biden publicly defended her husband, insisting that he remained “the only person for the job” and praising his debate effort at a gathering with supporters.
“Joe — you did such a great job. You answered every question, you knew all the facts,” she said.
But less than a month later, on July 21, Mr Biden withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed then vice-president Kamala Harris as his replacement.
Mrs Biden later said that she accepted stepping aside had been “the right call”.
Questions over Mr Biden’s health had dogged his re-election campaign since he launched it in April 2023, with reports later emerging that his wife had taken a greater role behind the scenes in managing his schedule and ensuring he rested.
Ms Harris ultimately lost the election in a landslide to Mr Trump, becoming the first Democrat in 20 years to lose the popular vote.
Mrs Biden is promoting her memoir View From The East Wing, which details her family’s time inside the White House. It is due to be released next week.
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