Adam Smith says ‘the only thing’ he wants from Jill Biden is an apology

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Rep Adam Smith sharply criticized former first lady Jill Biden during a CNN appearance on Thursday, May 28, saying the “only thing” he wants to hear from her now is an apology following her recent comments about former President Joe Biden’s disastrous 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump.

Smith’s remarks came after Jill Biden revealed in a preview clip for an upcoming CBS interview that she feared her husband was “having a stroke” while watching him struggle through the June 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta.

Speaking on CNN’s ‘The Arena,’ Smith accused the Biden family and advisers of refusing to acknowledge obvious warning signs before the election fallout damaged the Democratic Party politically.

Adam Smith says Jill Biden and advisers ignored Joe Biden’s decline

During Thursday’s interview, CNN co-host Kasie Hunt asked Smith whether Jill Biden’s latest comments were productive given the political damage caused by Joe Biden’s debate performance.

Smith did not hold back in his response.

“I don’t think it’s terribly productive. And it’s sad, and it’s dishonest,” Smith said.

The Democratic congressman then pointed to what he viewed as contradictions in Jill Biden’s recent statements.

“Just think of the two sentences she said. I saw him on the debate stage. I thought he was having a stroke,” Smith said.

“And then in the next breath, she says, no, I didn’t see any evidence of cognitive decline. Come on,” he continued.

Smith argued that concerns about Biden’s health had been obvious well before the debate happened.

“I mean, it was very clear. You know, probably a couple of years out, that Joe Biden was not going to be a credible candidate for president because of his age and declining health,” he said. “That to my mind, that’s not even debatable.”

According to Smith, Democrats paid a “terrible” political price because party leaders and Biden’s inner circle continued pushing forward with his campaign despite growing concerns.

Jill Biden feared Joe Biden was ‘having a stroke’

The controversy intensified after clips from Jill Biden’s upcoming CBS interview began circulating ahead of the full segment scheduled to air Sunday, May 31.

In the interview, Jill Biden described feeling alarmed while watching her husband struggle during the nationally televised debate against Trump.

“As I watched it, I thought: ‘Oh, my God, he’s having a stroke,’” she said.

She also admitted the moment deeply frightened her.

“I was frightened,” Jill Biden said, adding that she had “never ever seen Joe like that before or since.”

The June 2024 debate quickly became one of the defining moments of the election cycle.

During the 90-minute exchange, Biden repeatedly stumbled over answers, paused mid-sentence and spoke with a raspy voice that immediately fueled questions about his mental fitness and ability to continue campaigning.

One of the most talked-about moments came when Biden said, “We finally beat Medicare,” while attempting to discuss healthcare and prescription drug costs.

His campaign later clarified that he intended to say his administration had “beat big pharma.”

Trump immediately capitalized on the confusion during the debate itself.

“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump responded at the time. “I don’t think he knows what he said either.”

Adam Smith says Democrats lost credibility defending Joe Biden

Smith argued Thursday that Democrats were placed in an impossible position once Biden made it clear he intended to continue running.

“And yet, Jill and the family and a whole lot of his advisors around him, for whatever reason, dug in and said, we’re going to jam him forward,” Smith said. “And we’ve paid a terrible, terrible price for that.”

The congressman also admitted many Democrats felt pressured into publicly defending Biden despite private concerns.

“So it really weakened us in 2024,” he said. “We had to try and defend, you know, which undermined our credibility as individuals and our credibility as a party.”

Smith concluded his remarks with a blunt message directed at the former first lady.

“They should have seen it. They just should have seen it,” he said. “And the only thing I want to hear from Jill Biden is I’m sorry. We should have said something sooner.”

Jill Biden’s upcoming memoir, ‘View from the East Wing,’ is expected to further detail the chaotic final months of Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and the events that ultimately led to his decision to withdraw from the race and endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris.