Jill Biden Says She Thought Husband Was Having Stroke During 2024 Debate

Former first lady Jill Biden said she thought her husband was having a stroke during his June 2024 debate against Donald Trump. “I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never,” she told CBS News Sunday Morning’s Rita Braver. ” The interview is scheduled to air Sunday and will preview her memoir “View from the East Wing,” which is set for release June 2.

Joe Biden, then 81, repeatedly stumbled over words and delivered meandering answers during the June 27, 2024, debate in Atlanta. Several images of him appearing frozen circulated widely online. ” Campaign aides described the performance as an isolated bad night.

Biden ended his reelection bid on July 21, 2024, less than a month after the debate, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris became the Democratic nominee but lost the November election to Trump. Jill Biden’s comments mark the first time she has publicly described her immediate fear during the debate.

In a separate interview last year, she defended her husband’s schedule and rejected claims of cognitive decline. " — Jill Biden, May 27, 2026 (CBS News) The former first lady is beginning a book tour on June 2 to promote her memoir.