Claims and Reactions to Jill Biden’s Debate Remarks

CNN’s Jake Tapper, known for moderating the 2024 debate that significantly affected then-President Joe Biden’s political standing, addressed recent remarks made by former first lady Jill Biden. Tapper, in a video posted on Thursday, shared his perspective on the debate, noting that Jill Biden did not display any signs of concern about Joe Biden during their conversation afterward.

Jill Biden expressed in a new interview her fear that her husband might have been having a stroke during that debate. However, this claim has been met with skepticism from across the political spectrum. Tapper stated, “I was one of the two moderators at the debate, and after it, she and the president walked over to the table and they didn’t act as if anything significant had just happened at all. They made polite chitchat. She certainly didn’t act like somebody who was worried that her husband had just had a stroke.” This statement was shared in an Instagram post.

Tapper co-moderated the June 2024 debate alongside CNN’s Dana Bash. Following Jill Biden’s statement, both Democrats and Republicans questioned her revelation. At the beginning of a brief video posted by CNN, Tapper mentioned the responses from many Democrats to Jill Biden’s admission about her husband’s performance during the debate.

“Now, she tells us, that’s the response from lots of Democrats to former first lady Jill Biden,” Tapper remarked.

In a question from CBS, Jill Biden described her alarm during the debate, emphasizing her shock at watching her husband’s performance, which included a raspy voice, hesitant responses, and blank expressions, causing concern among the Democratic Party. “I don’t know what happened,” she noted. “I mean, when I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke,’ and it scared me to death.”

Despite her previous alarm, Jill Biden accompanied her husband to a local Waffle House post-debate and offered praise at the after-party, which drew attention for its seemingly low expectations. Her encouraging remarks were covered by media outlets. CNN host Abby Phillip criticized the Democrats after Jill Biden’s recent comments, emphasizing the need for transparency.

“I appreciate that we now get to see at least some version of a truth that she’s putting out there,” Phillip said. “The conversation should be had about the deceptiveness that was behind this.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Joe Biden for his comments on the matter.

Tapper also co-authored a book titled “Original Sin,” which investigates the cover-up by President Biden’s inner circle regarding his cognitive challenges, leading to Vice President Kamala Harris replacing him on the 2024 Democratic ticket.

Hanna Panreck, an associate editor at Fox News, contributed to this coverage.