Jill Biden, Former First Lady of the United States and Chair of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026 in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May, 5, 2026. Mike Blake/Reuters
Former first lady Jill Biden shared that she felt “afraid” while observing her husband, former President Joe Biden, during his sole presidential debate in the 2024 election, and she believed he might be experiencing a stroke on stage.
“I wasn’t horrified; I was scared, as I had never witnessed Joe in that state before or since, never,” Biden informed Rita Braver of CBS News Sunday Morning in an interview scheduled to air on CBS this Sunday.
A segment from this interview has been made public by the broadcaster.
“I’m uncertain what occurred. When I was watching, I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, he’s having a stroke,’ and it terrified me,” the former first lady elaborated later in the clip.
Jill Biden, Former First Lady of the United States and Chair of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026 in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May, 5, 2026.Mike Blake/Reuters
Following Biden’s stumbling performance in the June 2024 debate, numerous members of the Democratic Party urged him to withdraw from the presidential race – a decision he made approximately three weeks later, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the immediate aftermath of his lackluster showing, Biden and his wife made efforts to assure supporters that he was capable of serving as president for an additional four years.
During a rally the day after the debate, Biden acknowledged his unsteady performance.
“Folks, my walking isn’t as effortless as it used to be. My speaking isn’t as fluid as it once was. My debating isn’t as sharp as it used to be, but… I know how to be truthful. I understand the difference between right and wrong, and I know how to handle this role,” he stated to the assembled crowd.
President Joe Biden gestures during a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.Gerald Herbert/AP
At a fundraising event in New York City’s Greenwich Village following the debate, the former first lady also addressed his performance during the discussion.
“So, let’s discuss last night’s debate, because I know it’s on your minds,” she reportedly remarked. “As Joe mentioned earlier today, he is not a young man. And you know, after last night’s debate, he said, ‘You know, Jill, I’m not sure what happened. I wasn’t feeling particularly well.’ And I responded, ‘Look, Joe, we are not going to let 90 minutes define the four years you have served as president.’”
In a conversation with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News one week after the debate, Biden indicated that his subpar performance was not attributable to any significant health issue, attributing it instead to a “bad episode,” stating that recent international travel and a severe cold had left him depleted.
“There is no indication of any serious condition. I was fatigued. I did not heed my instincts regarding preparation and — and it was a bad night,” he commented.
The interview with CBS News is being released in anticipation of the former first lady’s book, “View from the East Wing: A Memoir,” which is set for publication on June 2.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com