Jill Biden says no aides warned her about Joe Biden's health before 2024 debate

Former first lady Jill Biden told ABC’s “The View” on June 2, that no one had approached her with concerns regarding former President Joe Biden’s health amid his disastrous 2024 presidential debate performance.

Biden’s comments came amid the former first lady's media appearances as her newly released memoir, “View from the East Wing,” hits shelves. 

When asked if she still thought her husband would have been able to serve another four years in the White House, Biden said it was doubtful, especially with her husband’s 2025 prostate cancer diagnosis.

"Well, not from what I know now," she said. "I mean, my God, who knew? I mean, it was so shocking to get that cancer diagnosis."

During her appearance on “The View”, Biden was asked if any of her husband's aides had approached her about his health before his debate appearance against then-Republican candidate Donald Trump, especially as Americans’ concern grew for the former president's well-being.

"You're saying many aides saw this. No one ever came to me and said, 'Jill, you know, Joe's aging or something's wrong,’” she said. “When I saw that, when all Americans saw that moment on TV at the debate, I mean, I was frightened out of my mind because I thought, 'Oh my god, he's having a stroke.’”

A book release and a cancer diagnosis

Biden’s book release comes only days after she gave an update on her husband’s health, a year after the former president said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

During a June 1 interview on NBC's "Today" to promote her new memoir, she said her husband is "doing OK" despite his ongoing battle with prostate cancer.

"I think if he had just been, you know, diagnosed with prostate cancer, that’s one thing, because that can be cured," the former first lady said. "But the fact that it metastasized to his bones, that makes it a whole different story."

She added, "So I think Joe will live with cancer 'till the rest of his life."

USA TODAY’s Melina Khan contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.