Jill Biden still feels the sting of ‘betrayal’ from Democrats who privately offered support for her husband – and then publicly called for him to exit the presidential race – but the first lady is now looking forward, those close to her say.
She was at the president’s side in Wilmington, Delaware, on that fateful day he decided to exit the presidential race after a relentless pressure campaign from party colleagues.
In fact, when he called Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, July 21, to inform her of his decision, he put the first lady on the phone.
‘We love you,’ she told Harris, a source familiar with the conversation said. She also called Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff, who she is close to.
She will address the Democratic National Convention on Monday, before her husband gives his bittersweet send-off speech and formally hands the baton to Harris.
But much of her focus is on the fall when she’ll return to her teaching job at a Northern Virginia community college. She also plans to be on the campaign trail for Harris.
In her remarks, she will ‘speak about the President’s strength and character, in a way that only a spouse of nearly 50 years can do, and she’ll reiterate her support for Vice President Harris, calling on Americans to come together ‘with faith in each other, hope for a brighter future, and love for our country,” a source familiar told DailyMail.com.
Jill Biden has been a constant presence at Joe Biden’s side – including above when he spoke to the nation about his decision to exit the presidential race
It was a remarkable change in attitude from the 2020 race when Jill Biden was reported to be angry at Harris for an attack line in one of the early primary debates, targeting Joe Biden for his record on school busing in the 1960s as part of desegregation efforts.
Now, however, Jill is firmly in Harris’ camp.
After Biden endorsed his vice president to be the Democratic nominee, the first lady posted to social media a handwritten note from herself endorsing Harris.
‘Thank you for the trust you put in Joe—now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala. Love, Jill,’ it read.
She also plans to take that message to campaign trail.
‘Of course, she’ll be out on the trail for Vice President Harris in the fall,’ the source noted.
But the first lady, who is known to hold grudges, hasn’t forgotten those days after the first presidential debate when many Democrats questioned her husband’s ability to campaign for a second term.
‘The first lady was dismayed at people who privately supported her husband and then publicly did not stand by him while he was weighing whether to stay in the presidential race,’ a source familiar told DailyMail.com.
The source declined to name names.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden disembark Air Force One, at Joint Base Andrews, after spending the weekend at Camp David
Jill Biden will campaign for Kamala Harris this fall – above Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at a Diwali ceremony at the White House
Jill has not publicly spoken about Joe Biden’s decision to step down as the Democratic nominee but she will have the chance to honor his service to the country when she addresses the convention on Monday night.
‘Down to the last hours of the decision only he could make, she was supportive of whatever road he chose. She’s his biggest believer, champion, and always on his side, in that trusted way only a spouse of almost 50 years can be,’ her communications director Elizabeth Alexander said.
Jill Biden has always been one of Joe Biden’s fiercest defenders and wants to ensure his legacy is protected.
And she is a constant presence at his side.
On the night he gave his Oval Office address to the nation, Jill Biden sat quietly on the sidelines with other members of the family.
When he finished speaking, she was the first at his side, rushing to the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office to hold his hand.
After the speeches on Monday night, the Bidens will head to Santa Ynez, California, where the couple will stay out of the spotlight as Harris takes the Democratic nomination.
Jill Biden will return to teaching and focus on her initiatives, including the Cancer Moonshot – above she and President Biden visited Tulane University to talk cancer research
This fall, Jill will once again teach English at the Northern Virginia Community College, as she has done for years.
She will also focus on her initiatives she started as first lady, including her Joining Forces and Cancer Moonshot work.
‘Last week, she traveled to New Orleans with the President to talk about the Biden Cancer Moonshot, and is finishing up her lesson plans for her fall teaching semester, where she will continue to teach English and writing at NOVA community college, as she has done throughout her years in the White House,’ Alexander said.
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