If anyone has influence over US President Joe Biden, it is his wife. Many people have high expectations of the First Lady. How is she dealing with her husband’s current crisis?
It is a scene that will stay in your memory: the most powerful man in the world stands on the stage, seemingly overwhelmed. His wife next to him praises him effusively: “Joe, you did such a great job. You answered all the questions. You knew all the facts.” The US President remains motionless. At this moment, Joe Biden himself probably already knows that his appearance at the TV debate against his Republican challenger Donald Trump was not such a great job. Just shortly before this scene in Atlanta, Georgia, the 81-year-old had delivered a disastrous performance at the TV spectacle in front of an audience of millions. Now his wife is praising him for it – almost like a schoolboy.
The Bidens have been married for almost half a century, and 73-year-old Jill is considered the US President’s closest confidante. After the death of Biden’s first wife and daughter in a car accident, she became a mother figure for Biden’s sons, who survived the accident. The couple have a daughter together. Since the TV debate, a debate has flared up in the US about whether Joe Biden is really the right candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination – or whether he should make room for a younger alternative. And Jill Biden has also come into focus.
Great expectations for the First Lady
“It’s time for Jill Biden to have a difficult conversation with her husband,” wrote the Washington Post. It is now time for the “shitty part” of marriage. “The part where supporting your spouse means saying very, very hard things to them.” But the teacher, at least publicly, leaves no room for doubt about her husband. Her ironclad support has been the subject of much malice in recent days. “Jill Biden refuses to drop out of the presidential race,” mocked the Christian-conservative satire website “The Babylon Bee,” making her the actual candidate. Jill Biden has announced that she will put her husband into a kind of sleep until after the election and run the country herself in the meantime.
Jill, the woman with the strings in her hand? Meghan McCain, the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, who died in 2018, found bitter words. “Jill Biden will not be remembered fondly in American history,” the conservative publicist wrote online. On the X platform, the hashtag #elderabuse – abuse of the elderly – was trending among Trump supporters.
Glossy photo on the cover of “Vogue”
On Monday, the new cover of the fashion magazine “Vogue” made headlines. The First Lady can be seen in a white outfit by designer Ralph Lauren. On the cover, she is quoted as saying: “We will decide our future.” Whether this is good or bad timing is debatable. The photos were taken some time ago, and the friendly text describes Jill Biden’s support for her husband during the election campaign. Before the publication, “Vogue” checked with Jill Biden again and asked about the TV debacle. She made it unmistakably clear that they would not allow “these 90 minutes” to determine the four years of Biden’s presidency. “We will continue to fight.”
Of course, nobody knows what is going on behind the scenes with the Bidens. The US President withdrew with his family after the appearance. The meeting had been planned for some time. The White House was keen to ensure that the meeting was not a last-minute crisis meeting. But at least outwardly, Jill Biden is trying to downplay the botched appearance. “There is no one I would rather have sitting in the Oval Office right now than my husband,” she said at a joint appearance on Friday. She was wearing a striking dress with the word “Vote” written on it in white letters.
Debate not free of sexism
The more often Jill Biden appeared or spoke out in recent days, the more mockery she received online. The accusations that she was only interested in her own power are dripping with sexism. Nevertheless, many are wondering why the First Lady does not appear to be speaking to her husband’s conscience. “It is not Jill Biden’s job to advise the president on the most sensitive issues and difficult decisions. She was not elected to do this. She was not elected, period,” the New York Times judges in an opinion piece. Focusing on Jill Biden relieves Joe Biden of his responsibility. “It is up to him to demonstrate the necessary self-reflection and character to make the right decision.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
