‘Look What He’s Doing’: First Lady Touts President's Accomplishments
She defends Hunter Biden and says he won't be a factor in her husband deciding to run
While President Biden would be 82 years old on Inauguration Day, if he were to win a second term, the fact is that he is accomplishing more than those decades younger could.
That's according to the president's wife, Dr Jill Biden, during an on-camera interview with CNN.
The first lady also vocally stood by her adult stepson, Hunter Biden, who's become a perennial boogyman among those on the political right.
Asked about President Biden's advanced age, the first lady replied, “I say look at what he’s done. You know, look at what he’s doing. Look at how physically he’s got the good bill of health from the doctors to his physicals.
“But how many 30-year-olds could travel to Poland, get on the train, go nine more hours, go to Ukraine, meet with President [Volodomyr] Zelensky?” the first lady asked. “His energy level, his level of passion, so look at the man. Look what he’s doing. Look what he continues to do each and every day, and make your decision. It’s up to the American people.”
Jill Biden was referring to the extraordinary, secret visit her husband took last month to Ukraine's capital city of Kiyv, to show solidarity with Zelensky in his efforts to fight off the ongoing Russian invasion of his country.
President Biden has not yet officially announced whether he will run for reelection, but White House sources reportedly have said such an announcement could come soon.
The first lady, however, enthusiastically endorsed her husband running for a second term.
“I'm all for it,” she said.
In her interview, Jill Biden dismissed, out of hand, a proposal by Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley that presidential candidates older than 75 must pass some sort of competency test, calling the former South Carolina governor and one-time ambassador to the United Nations, “ridiculous.”
“I mean, we haven't even discussed -- we would never even discuss something like that,” the first lady said.
Meanwhile, the focus on her adult stepson, Hunter, has been ramping up as Republicans who now control the House are stepping up investigations into Hunter Biden, who has struggled with addiction issues.
Jill Biden said that she stands with her stepson, and dismissed with a flat “no,” the idea that scrutiny of Hunter could effect thinking on 2024.
“We deal with it by just I guess have a different perspective. I love Hunter and I’ll support him in any way I can, and that’s how I look at things,” she said.
Jill Biden said her thoughts go out to her predecessor, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, as President Jimmy Carter spends his final days at home in hospice care at age 98.
Most one-time first ladies have been very helpful and supportive to her, Jill Biden said.
“Oh, sure, absolutely. And I don’t care whether they’re Republican or Democrat. I think it’s a big role,” she said. “… I mean, it’s a very small number at this point of women, and I think we have to support one another.”
However, when asked, Jill Biden said that, no, she hasn't spoken with her direct predecessor, Melania Trump.
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