Jill Biden thought husband Joe was ‘having a stroke’ during heated Trump moment
Topics: Politics, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, US News
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIJIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Politics, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, US News
Jill Biden has opened up about the terrifying moment she thought her husband, Joe Biden, was 'having a stroke' during a heated political debate.
Back in 2024, former President Joe Biden faced off against Donald Trump for a televised debate, and the former US First Lady recalls feeling 'frightened' about her husband's health.
She told CBS News: "I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never".
He repeatedly stumbled throughout the debate, and didn't seem to be well.
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Donald Trump had made much of Biden's health over the years, often hitting out at him and referring to his opponent as 'Sleepy Joe Biden'.
The then-President was facing intense pressure to step down, and his faltering performance during the debate made things much, much worse.
Jill was speaking to CBS News Sunday Morning's Rita Braver about the terrifying moment, as she could do nothing but watch.
"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," confessed Jill.
He was 81 at the time, and his wife later defended his performance, after critics hit out at him seemingly losing his train of thought during the viral debate.
He also had a raspy voice, which his team said was because he was ill.
After the event, at a rally in Atlanta, Jill praised her husband publicly: "Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts."
She turned to the audience: "And let me ask the crowd. What did Trump do? Lie!"
However, despite her unwavering support and his team's best effort, just months later Biden suffered a Covid infection as well as a few other gaffes during interviews, and under pressure from his party he finally made the decision to step down from his presidency.
Kamala Harris took over, just three months before the election.
Following her defeat to Trump, Harris went on to criticise the former President, saying his decision to try to seek a second term was nothing but 'recklessness'.
The BBC quoted her memoir, saying: "'It's Joe and Jill's decision.' We all said that, like a mantra, as if we'd all been hypnotized."
"Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness."
Jill Biden has also written a new memoir about her time in the White House, called View From The East Wing: A Memoir.
Donald Trump has also been experiencing health concerns of late, but the White House insists he has never been fitter.