First Lady Jill Biden’s Upcoming Role at the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games’ opening ceremony might be overshadowed by recent events in the White House, as it has been confirmed that Jill Biden will attend the event on the Seine.
This marks her first major international appearance since President Joe Biden withdrew from his re-election campaign due to health concerns.
Speculations had arisen in Paris about the first lady possibly canceling her appearance, with some suggesting Vice President Kamala Harris might step in. Harris’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, is already scheduled to lead the delegation at the closing ceremony. However, the White House confirmed on Monday that Jill Biden would lead a delegation of seven senior US figures, including US Ambassador to France Denise Campbell Bauer, Senators Chris Coons and Alex Padilla, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The US delegation also includes Casey Wasserman, chairperson of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brian Boitano, a three-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, and Dawn Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in women’s basketball.
Jill Biden, 73, will be in the spotlight as she stands alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte on Friday evening.
The president’s wife had been a crucial part of defending Joe Biden’s re-election bid, especially after his performance in the first debate with Donald Trump, which raised questions about his capability to continue.
Since her husband announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race on Sunday, Jill Biden has not made a public statement, apart from sharing his announcement on social media with a heart emoji.
She is also scheduled to attend a fundraising event in Paris that had been planned before Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the election. The event, hosted by former US Ambassador to the EU Tony Gardner, Belinda de Gaudemar, and Lorna Johnson, features ticket prices ranging from $500 (£390) to $25,000 (£19,400).
During the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, Jill Biden stayed for some of the sports events as the leader of the US delegation. Her Paris itinerary has not been disclosed yet.
Jill Biden’s visit to France will undoubtedly be marked by inquiries about her husband’s unprecedented decision and her involvement in it.
As an English professor, Jill Biden staunchly defended her husband after the debate with Trump. “Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question, you knew all the facts!” she told him.
She introduced her husband at subsequent rallies, portraying the debate as a confrontation between Joe Biden, who “told the truth,” and Trump, who she claimed propagated “lie after lie after lie.”