Jill Biden has praised her husband, Joe Biden, as a “hero” for choosing to withdraw from the 2024 Presidential Election, according to RadarOnline.com.
Speaking on Jamie Kern Lima’s podcast, the former first lady refuted claims that she influenced Joe’s decision to exit the race, despite reports that he sought her counsel as influential Democrats urged him to step down over concerns about his cognitive health.
“There was immense pressure for Joe to step down, with dwindling support from the Democratic Party. Joe asked me, ‘What do you think, Jill? What should I do?'” she explained during the podcast.
“I told him, ‘No.’ I insisted, ‘This decision is yours to make. You must be able to live with it for the rest of your life.’ I was clear that I would not weigh in either for or against,” she recounted.
“I stood by that. Even as his advisers came forward, Joe saw the way things were heading and chose to step aside,” she continued. “In my view, his decision was heroic. He sacrificed everything.”
Jill recounted Joe’s emotional state after his announcement to leave the 2024 race.
“It was difficult for him. I remember going upstairs that night, getting into bed, and asking, ‘Joe, how are you doing?’ He took my hand and said, ‘Jilly, I had no choice.'”
“So, he stepped aside. That’s the kind of person Joe is,” Jill added.
Kamala Harris, his Vice President, was eventually chosen to replace him in the election, but she was defeated by Donald Trump.
Jill also mentioned that Joe initially intended to serve just one term in the White House.
She noted that it was his advisers, encouraged by the Democrats’ success in the 2022 midterm elections, who persuaded Biden to pursue another term, repeatedly telling him, “He has to run. He has to run.”
“Initially, Joe did not plan to run for two terms. He only intended to serve one term,” Jill disclosed to Lima. “I think many forget this historical context amid all the negativity. They overlook the real story of what happened.”
“I hope that history will reflect this and that it becomes Joe’s legacy…that he acted because he believed in listening to the American people,” Jill expressed. “I was incredibly proud. I knew how challenging it would be, but he did it.”
