Jill Biden feared husband was 'having a stroke' during 2024 US presidential debate

Former US First Lady Jill Biden told CBS News she was terrified watching Joe Biden's performance against Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential debate. She said she initially feared her husband was suffering a stroke during the televised confrontation.

Former US First Lady Jill Biden has opened up about her fears during the June 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, revealing in a CBS News interview that she thought her husband might be having a stroke as she watched his struggling performance unfold on live television.

The debate, widely seen as a turning point in the 2024 US presidential race, drew widespread concern from Democratic voters and political commentators alike. Joe Biden's halting speech and apparent confusion during the broadcast raised immediate questions about his fitness to seek a second term in the White House.

Jill Biden described feeling frightened as she observed her husband on stage, saying the moment triggered fears about his health rather than just his political standing. Her candid account adds new personal detail to the broader story of the Biden campaign's eventual decision to withdraw from the race.

Following the debate, pressure mounted on the incumbent president to step aside, and Joe Biden ultimately ended his re-election bid in July 2024, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Harris went on to face Donald Trump in the November general election, which Trump won.