CHICAGO — Jill Biden has often reflected on her early reservations about a life in the spotlight after marrying Joe Biden, who was then a senator from Delaware. However, as she prepares to address the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, she is now well-acquainted with that public attention. Her speech will underscore her husband’s five decades of public service as his presidency approaches its conclusion.
This moment represents a significant transitional period for Jill Biden as well.
Before President Biden takes the stage at the United Center to deliver his keynote address, the First Lady will speak about his character and reaffirm her support for Vice President Kamala Harris. This information comes from a source familiar with her remarks who requested anonymity due to the unreleased nature of the speech.
In her address, Jill Biden will call on Americans to unite with hope for a brighter future, faith in one another, and love for the nation, according to prepared statements.
Following his exit from the presidential race in July, President Biden endorsed Harris, who has now become the Democratic Party’s nominee. In the weeks leading to his departure, Jill Biden expressed her steadfast commitment to her husband’s reelection bid, despite growing calls from within the party for him to withdraw after a challenging debate performance against Republican Donald Trump.
Biden had dismissed those calls, maintaining his intent to continue his campaign, a sentiment echoed by his wife, a strong supporter. “For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she stated during a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The Democratic convention has since been restructured to celebrate Biden’s contributions as a six-term senator, vice president, and president.
As they navigate their remaining time in the White House, Jill Biden plans to focus on issues close to her heart, including supporting military families through her Joining Forces initiative, tackling cancer through the Biden Cancer Moonshot, promoting women’s health research that was initiated in late 2023, and expanding educational opportunities.
Additionally, she is expected to actively support Harris’s campaign in the upcoming fall elections.
Jill Biden has made history as the first presidential spouse to hold a paid job outside the White House, continuing her role as an English and writing professor at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009. She has been diligently preparing for the upcoming fall semester.
Throughout her time as First Lady, Jill Biden has traveled extensively, visiting over 40 states and 19 countries, most recently leading a delegation to the Olympic Games in France to show support for Team USA. She also devoted her first year in the administration to encouraging U.S. citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and made a notable trip to Ukraine in 2022 to demonstrate support following Russia’s invasion.