Trump trolls Jill Biden over debate 'stroke' fears, says of Biden's collapse: 'I know the reason'

At the June 2024 debate, Joe Biden struggled with a hoarse voice and lost his train of thought as Donald Trump said he was 'choking'
President Donald Trump reacted to former First Lady Jill Biden's defense of her husband and former President Joe Biden's debate performance, saying it fell short of presidential standards (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump reacted to former First Lady Jill Biden's defense of her husband and former President Joe Biden's debate performance, saying it fell short of presidential standards (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, May 29, criticized former First Lady Jill Biden after she acknowledged that she feared her husband, former President Joe Biden, had suffered a “stroke” during the 2024 presidential debate. 

Trump offered his own theory on what actually caused Biden to “choke” after Jill Biden’s admission.

Jill Biden is seen making the remark in the preview of an interview with CBS News correspondent Rita Braver, released this week. In the viral clip, Jill Biden said she was alarmed by how her husband was performing and knew something was serious and not right. The interview is set to air on CBS News' 'Sunday Morning'.

“I mean, as I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke’ – and it scared me to death,” she said in the preview clip.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: U.S. first lady Jill Biden delivers remarks during a reception to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. While highlighting examples of contributions by Asian Americans to U.S. culture and history, President Joe Biden also said the country must push back again anti-Asian bias, xenophobia and harassment, which has spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Former First Lady Jill Biden delivers remarks during a reception to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 17, 2022, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

After her statement went viral, Trump seized on her remarks, reinforcing that Biden’s performance was not up to standard, and offered his theory of what actually happened with Biden.

Trump claims his performance caused Joe Biden to choke

Trump also criticized Jill Biden for not running to help her husband like a good wife, as he wrote a post on Truth Social.

“Jill Biden is now out there finally admitting that she did NOT know what went wrong with Sleepy Joe during our spectacular, and highly rated, 2024 Presidential Debate,” Trump wrote, before ridiculing her claim that she feared Biden was experiencing a serious medical episode.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside first lady Melania Trump as they depart the White House on April 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump and the first lady are traveling to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside First Lady Melania Trump as they depart the White House on April 25, 2025, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump questioned why, then, she did not intervene during the event, “as any good wife would do.”

Shifting the attention back to performance, Trump further wrote, “The only thing she failed to mention was how well I was doing prior to his near total collapse.”

“In other words, as many have asked, did my strong performance in that debate cause [Biden] to plain and simple 'choke', leading to his ignominious defeat, or were other reasons the cause?” the president asked.

“Nobody else knows the answer to that, BUT I DO!!!” he claimed.



The way Biden presented himself during the 2024 debate intensified concern around his age and fitness for office, ultimately helping trigger his withdrawal from the presidential race.

Joe Biden admits debate missteps

During the June 27, 2024, presidential debate against Donald Trump, Biden struggled with a hoarse voice and frequently lost his train of thought. 

U.S. Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) speaks during a taping of NBC's 'Meet the Press' August 4, 2002 at the NBC studios in Washington, D.C. Biden talked about the Senate hearings on Iraq and the possibility of a military attack on Iraq. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Joseph Biden speaks during a taping of NBC's 'Meet the Press' on August 4, 2002, at the NBC studios in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biden himself later admitted he had "screwed up" and performed poorly, citing severe exhaustion, a bad cold, and jet lag from recent overseas travel.

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