Jill Biden, once a reluctant political spouse, became a fierce guardian of her husband’s legacy, according to a new book.
“Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson paints her as a powerful first lady, shielding Joe Biden’s presidency while allegedly ignoring his cognitive decline. Her story raises questions about loyalty, power, and truth in the White House.
Fox News reported that Jill Biden, a Ph.D., dubbed “Dr. B” by staffers, transformed into a key political player during Joe Biden’s campaigns and presidency. Initially hesitant, she embraced her role, becoming a vocal defender and strategist.
Unlike Biden’s sister and children, who avoided the 2020 campaign spotlight, Jill took center stage.
She vetted campaign hires, scrutinized ads, and grilled aides about media coverage at her events. Her hands-on approach signaled a first lady uninterested in staying on the sidelines.
Jill Biden’s influence extended to White House operations, where she and aide Anthony Bernal tracked staff loyalty.
She even joined job interviews for aides, a move that raised eyebrows among some staffers. This level of control suggests a first lady deeply invested in her husband’s administration.
Her team’s requests for talking points during “spousal programming” on foreign trips puzzled national security officials. Such demands hinted at Jill’s desire to project strength, even in ceremonial roles. It’s a reminder that optics matter in politics, sometimes more than substance.
By 2022, Jill’s commitment to another campaign was clear. At a state dinner, she told French President Emmanuel Macron about the grind of campaigns, prompting an awkward toast to “four more years.” The moment, overheard by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, revealed Jill’s focus on endurance over doubt.
Jill Biden staunchly supported Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election bid, emerging as a chief advocate despite concerns about his age.
“Dr. B was a strong, protective force,” Tapper and Thompson write, noting her denial of his cognitive decline. Loyalty is admirable, but ignoring reality can have consequences.
In June 2024, Jill defended her husband on “The View,” a move critics like Karoline Leavitt called complicity in a “cover-up.” Her public defense, while heartfelt, fueled accusations that she prioritized image over truth. Turns out, protecting a legacy can backfire.
On June 27, 2024, Joe Biden’s debate performance sparked widespread concern. Jill and Hunter Biden urged him to press on, even as the Biden family questioned staff preparation. Their defiance showed a family united, but perhaps too insulated from reality.
Days after the debate, Jill campaigned with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, later venting frustration over Stabenow’s doubts about Biden’s campaign. Her irritation revealed a first lady protective to a fault. It’s hard to fault her devotion, but dismissing allies’ concerns rarely ends well.
On or around July 4, 2024, Gov. Josh Shapiro raised similar worries, only for Jill to whisk Joe Biden away before a full response. Her gatekeeping, while instinctive, underscored her role as both shield and barrier. Sometimes, love can blind us to hard truths.
Jill’s resentment grew as Democrats pushed Biden to exit the race. She later admitted her post-debate praise was a misstep, saying, “This is your decision,” to her husband. It’s a rare moment of humility, but one that came too late to shift the narrative.
Jill Biden’s story, as told in “Original Sin,” is one of loyalty and power, but also of missed warnings. “Hunter privately talked about it as being the family against the world,” the authors note, capturing the siege mentality that defined their response. Families stick together, but at what cost?
Ultimately, Jill Biden’s rise reveals the tension between personal devotion and public responsibility. Her fierce defense of Joe Biden may have shielded him, but it couldn’t stop the questions. In politics, as in life, truth has a way of catching up.
