Jill Biden’s role in the White House was always questioned. Now the truth has been revealed.
Because a bombshell book exposed Jill Biden’s little secret.
Jill Biden’s Ascendancy Amid Joe’s Decline: A Tale of Loyalty and Missteps
As President Joe Biden’s political career unraveled, First Lady Jill Biden emerged as a dominant force within his faltering administration, according to the new book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.
Released on July 8, the book by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf paints a d*mning picture of a presidency undermined by Biden’s cognitive struggles and poor leadership decisions, with Jill’s growing influence and protective instincts exacerbating the administration’s disconnect from reality.
Her unwavering defense of Biden, even as his disastrous debate performance exposed his weaknesses, highlights a troubling prioritization of loyalty over the nation’s needs, contributing to the Democrats’ 2024 electoral defeat.
A Protective Gatekeeper: Jill Biden’s Overreach and Bernal’s Influence
Jill Biden’s rising political clout, alongside her chief of staff Anthony Bernal, shaped a White House marked by secrecy and defensiveness, the book reveals.
Bernal, described as “unflinchingly loyal” to Jill, wielded significant power, often blurring the lines between his opinions and hers.
“He quickly bonded with Jill Biden and never left her side, becoming unflinchingly loyal to her and using his proximity to her to exert power wherever he decided. It was often unclear if the opinion he was expressing was his own or the first lady’s. Sometimes, when donors or voters asked her questions, Bernal would jump in to answer,” the authors note.
This dynamic stifled transparency, with a “near-total ban” on discussing Hunter Biden’s federal trial in June 2024, even as Jill traveled extensively to attend it, flying from France’s D-Day commemoration to Wilmington and back.
Her surprise appearances at the trial, unknown to most senior aides, emphasize her independent streak but also her detachment from the administration’s broader strategy, which faltered under Biden’s leadership missteps.
Defending a Sinking Ship: Jill’s Unyielding Support for Joe
Jill Biden’s role as her husband’s fiercest defender reached its peak after Biden’s catastrophic 2024 debate against President Donald Trump, which exposed his frailty and fueled calls for him to exit the race.
At a fundraiser shortly after, she insisted, “Joe isn’t just the right person for the job. He’s the only person for the job.”
The book details her as the “protective spouse,” micromanaging Biden’s schedule and questioning staff, as when she demanded an aide explain a prolonged press conference in January 2022.
At Camp David post-debate, as donors and party leaders urged Biden to step aside, the authors note, “The president was not entertaining the idea of dropping out of the race; he was taking stock of how bad things really were,” with Jill among the family members persuading him to stay. Despite Biden’s claims of a mere “bad night” due to a cold and his insistence on avoiding late events, his resolve crumbled.
Less than a month later, following an assassination attempt on Trump, Biden suspended his campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris.
