Jill Biden said Joe Biden’s performance in the June 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump was disastrous, telling her, "Jilly, I had no choice" before dropping out of the race [1, 2, 3]. She recalled that the backlash from the public and many longtime Democratic allies after the debate contributed strongly to his decision to withdraw, a process she found "hurtful and heartbreaking" given 50 years of close friendships [1, 2].
Immediately after the confrontation with Trump, Jill Biden said Joe whispered to her, "I really f***ed up, didn't I?" acknowledging his failure in the debate [4, 2]. She initially praised his effort, telling him, "Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts," but later worried he might have been having a stroke due to his confused behavior [1, 4]. She noted the performance made her think, "Is this a stroke?" and described the moment as seeing a "glitching AI hologram" of him, wondering if he had been drugged or given medication [4].
Jill wrote in her memoir that during the debate, Joe "lost himself," no longer speaking from the heart or embodying his true essence [4]. She said she did not witness his debate preparations as she was campaigning elsewhere [3].
She also expressed surprise that Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, since she believed Harris would win [4]. Jill Biden pushed back against critics who said her memoir reopened painful 2024 election wounds, telling one, "Call me up, and say it to my face, buddy" [3].
The 2024 debate was also marked by Jill Biden’s claim that Donald Trump lied over 100 times, highlighting the bitter context surrounding Joe Biden’s performance [4].
Jill Biden’s memoir, "View from the East Wing," was released on June 2, 2026, followed by her public response to criticism during a New York City event on June 3 [1, 4, 2, 3].
