Jill Biden breaks silence on who pushed Joe to run, until he had 'no choice' but to quit

WASHINGTON, DC: Former First Lady Dr Jill Biden has pushed back against the long-running narrative that she was among the driving forces behind Joe Biden's decision to seek reelection in 2024, saying his advisers, Democratic allies, and supporters encouraged him to continue after the party's stronger-than-expected performance in the 2022 midterms.

In a new interview on 'The Jamie Kern Lima Show', Dr Biden said her husband had initially planned to serve only one term.

But she said calls for him to remain in office grew after Democrats performed well in the midterms, with people around the president repeatedly telling him that he needed to run again.

Her comments offer a personal account of the pressures surrounding Biden's decision as questions about his age and fitness increasingly dominated his final year as president.

Advisers urged Joe Biden to continue

Dr Jill Biden said the encouragement to seek another term came from inside and outside the White House.

“His advisors were saying that. People were saying that everywhere, out on the road. He has to run,” she recalled.

Biden had entered the White House in 2021 as the oldest person ever elected president, and his age remained a persistent political issue throughout his term.

Donald Trump and other Republicans repeatedly raised concerns about his health before the matter became impossible for Democrats to ignore following Biden's June 2024 debate performance.

The president struggled through the televised matchup with Trump, prompting alarm within his own party and eventually leading prominent Democrats to call for him to leave the race.

Jill Biden stayed out of the decision

Jill Biden said the final choice belonged entirely to her husband and insisted she deliberately refused to tell him what she thought he should do.

When Biden asked for her advice, she said she told him that he would have to live with whatever decision he made for the rest of his life.

“I am not going to weigh in for or against,” she said, adding that she remained true to that position.

Biden ultimately announced on July 21, 2024, that he would withdraw as the Democratic nominee.

Jill Biden recalled a private moment after the announcement when, she said, her husband took her hand and told her, “Jilly, I had no choice.”

She described his decision to step aside as an act of sacrifice and said she hoped history would eventually provide a fuller account of his presidency and final campaign.

Bidens prepare to tell their story

The former first lady's remarks come as the Bidens prepare to offer more of their own versions of the events that shaped their time in Washington.

Joe Biden is set to release his memoir, 'Promise Me, America', on November 17, in which he has said he will discuss the decisions he made and the challenges facing the country.

Jill Biden also revealed that she is writing a book focused on health, aging, and longevity.