'Own circle did it': Former Biden aides slam Jill Biden's memoir over timing and 2024 blame
WASHINGTON, DC: Former First Lady Jill Biden has ignited severe backlash from ex-Biden aides over her new White House memoir. Along with the timing of the release, ex-aides accused Jill Biden of reopening painful divisions and refusing to take responsibility for the events that led to the party’s 2024 defeat.
The backlash came after the release of an excerpt from the book 'View from the West Wing: A Memoir,' and just before Joe and Jill Biden prepared to re-engage politically ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Former Biden officials slam Jill Biden over her memoir
Several former Biden administration officials told Axios reporter Alex Thompson, co-author of 'Original Sin', a book chronicling Biden's failed 2024 reelection campaign, that they were frustrated by the timing of the memoir releases.
One former Biden campaign aide offered a particularly blunt assessment. "It's just so selfish," the former aide said.
"The Bidens preached selflessness and service above all, and every decision they've made since he decided to run for reelection has been about themselves," the individual added.
The former aide further argued that the people closest to Biden are doing the most damage to his legacy. "It's also ironic, the only people undermining President Biden's legacy are the people closest to him," the former aide said.
Biden aide indicates Jill and Kamala's role in 2024 defeat
Another former administration official suggested that both Jill Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris have failed to take responsibility for the party's loss.
"The throughline between her book and Harris's is that they blame everyone but themselves for the loss," the former official said.
Thompson also pointed to Jill Biden's retelling of the June 2024 debate against then-Republican nominee Donald Trump, a performance widely viewed as the turning point that ultimately forced Biden out of the race.
After Jill Biden said she thought Joe was having a stroke on the debate stage, she again denies she ever saw signs of cognitive decline.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 31, 2026
Q: “Did you ever see signs that he was falling into cognitive decline?”
JILL: “No.”
REPORTER: “No?”
JILL: “No.”
REPORTER: “Truly?”
JILL:…
In both her memoir and a promotional interview with CBS News' 'Sunday Morning', on Sunday, May 31, Jill Biden claimed that she feared her husband was suffering a "stroke" during the debate.
However, Thompson noted that her public actions immediately afterward appeared inconsistent with those concerns.
"After the debate, however, she didn't appear so worried and joined President Biden at a campaign rally, and a stop at a Waffle House, then introduced him at a rally the next day after an overnight flight," Thompson wrote.
