Ashley Biden has filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Dr. Howard Krein, according to court paperwork filed Monday in Philadelphia. The former first daughter, 44, and Krein, 59, were married in 2012 in Greenville, Delaware, at the same church where she was baptized.
Ashley marked the filing on social media with a now-deleted Instagram Story showing her walking through a park and giving a thumbs-up to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” She also reposted a quote that read, “New life, means new boundaries. New ways of being that won’t look or sound like they did before,” set to Lauryn Hill’s “Freedom Time.”
Background
– Ashley and Krein met in 2010 through her late brother Beau Biden.
– The couple lived in Philadelphia in a home reported to be worth about $1.3 million. Krein is an otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
– Ashley holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked on criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania.
– She has occasionally been publicly visible in support of her family: she introduced her father at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and was present with Krein and other family members during President Biden’s June 2024 Oval Office announcement that he would not seek re-election.
Recent public posture
In recent months Ashley has defended her father against media scrutiny over his health and mental fitness while in office, publicly rejecting claims she characterized as exaggerated or misleading. Her recent social posts suggest she is emphasizing a fresh start and new personal boundaries.
What’s next
The divorce filing was submitted in Philadelphia; further details from the court or the parties have not been released. As with many private family matters involving public figures, the legal process may be handled with varying degrees of public disclosure.
Additional comment and context
This appears to be a personal transition for Ashley Biden rather than a public controversy. Her social posts — highlighting “new life” and boundaries — convey a desire to move forward privately and deliberately. Given her background in social work and advocacy, she may focus on maintaining privacy and stability while the matter proceeds.
Brief summary
Ashley Biden filed for divorce from Dr. Howard Krein after 13 years of marriage, posting social-media messages suggesting a focus on new boundaries and a fresh start. The couple married in 2012, lived in Philadelphia, and have been publicly visible at times with the Biden family. Court details beyond the initial filing have not been made public.