&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Jill Biden says she thought Joe Biden was 'having a stroke' during 2024 debate against Donald Trump")
Former US first lady Jill Biden revealed in an upcoming interview that she feared her husband, former president Joe Biden, was suffering a medical emergency during his widely criticised 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump. Speaking to CBS News for CBS News Sunday Morning, Jill Biden described the moment as deeply alarming. "I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never," she said in a preview clip released on Wednesday (May 27).
"I don't know what happened," she added. “As I watched it, I thought, 'Oh, my God, he's having a stroke.' And it scared me to death.” During the 2024 presidential debate, Joe Biden, then 81, struggled repeatedly with his responses, stumbled over words, appeared vacant at times, and lost his train of thought while debating Trump. Despite concerns raised by viewers and political analysts, Jill Biden publicly defended her husband immediately after the debate. Speaking before supporters, she praised him, saying: "Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question, you knew all the facts."
The debate performance triggered intense concern inside the Democratic Party regarding Biden’s age and mental sharpness. The fallout eventually led to his withdrawal from the presidential race, with then-vice president Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic nominee. Harris later lost the election to Trump following a shortened campaign period.
In a July 2024 interview with ABC News journalist George Stephanopoulos, Joe Biden said he had been ‘feeling terrible’ on the day of the debate but defended himself against questions about his age and cognitive abilities. When questioned again by CBS about the debate, Jill Biden said she still did not ‘know what happened’.
Trending Stories
)
Indus treaty can no longer function in its current form, says India; plans 5,500 mw of new J&K hydro projects
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
'There is no need for...': PM Modi takes a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, sends big message amid Parliament March
)
'Now come to us': CJP resumes protest after Parliament march violence, calls meeting with Nadda 'waste of time'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2026 FIFA World Cup awards: Full list of Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and every major winner
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
)
Xi Jinping's new AI bloc: China launches 'World AI Body' with Pakistan and Russia in, India out
)
'We acted immediately...': Indian PM Modi breaks silence on paper leaks as NEET protest, calls for Education Minister's resignation grows
)
UP BTech gold medalist dies by suicide after failing in nearly 50 govt job attempts, leaves note for father
)
'Guru is the...': Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shares message on education amid calls for his resignation
)
Jail over Khamenei post: J&K youth returns home after 3 months in Saudi custody
)
Japan is selling a refrigerator to cool the human body for Rs 9 lakh. It is already a hit in Tokyo
)
Truck loaded with stones, metro stations closed: What's happening at Jantar Mantar now
)
Student union leaders call off hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after civil society appeal, but protest continues
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Iran strikes Amazon data infrastructure in Bahrain, power, water desalination plants in Kuwait
)
3.5-million-year-old mystery creature found in Japan is a 'giant' never seen before
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s cockpit glass is thicker than a standard fighter jet
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The best XI that ruled football’s biggest stage
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
FACT CHECK: Was Abhijit Dipke detained during CJP's Parliament march? Here's what police say
The interview comes ahead of the June 2 release of her memoir, View From the East Wing. In an earlier interview with Associated Press, Jill Biden described writing the memoir as 'cathartic'. “I wrote about all the, you know, sometimes painful, but other times, most of it really beautiful moments that Joe and I shared during his presidency,” she said.
