Jill Biden’s Convention Speech Honors Joe Biden and Marks Her Farewell

CHICAGO (AP) — Jill Biden once acknowledged that marrying Joe Biden, who was then a senator from Delaware, meant embarking on “a life in the spotlight that I had never wanted.”

Now, after years of adjusting to this very spotlight, the First Lady is set to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention. Her address will celebrate her husband’s extensive 50 years of public service as his presidency nears its conclusion.

Her speech will signify a transition for her as well.

Jill Biden will address the crowd before the president delivers the keynote remarks at the United Center on the convention’s first evening. The First Lady plans to highlight her husband’s character and reaffirm her support for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a source familiar with her speech who requested anonymity.

In her remarks, Jill Biden will call on Americans to come together with “faith in each other, hope for a brighter future, and love for our country,” according to the source quoting from her prepared speech.

Shortly after stepping away from the presidential race in July, President Biden endorsed Harris, who has since become the Democratic Party’s nominee.

In the weeks leading up to Biden’s decision to exit the race, the First Lady expressed her unwavering support for her husband, emphasizing her commitment to his reelection despite growing calls from Democrats for him to withdraw following a poor debate performance against Republican Donald Trump on June 27.

Biden dismissed those requests and remained steadfast in his campaign. His wife, a devoted champion of his political ambitions, voiced her support at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, stating, “For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in. That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too.”

Ultimately, Biden ended his campaign on July 21.

The opening night of the Democratic convention was adjusted in light of Biden’s withdrawal. It will now celebrate his legacy, which includes six terms as a U.S. senator for Delaware, eight years as Vice President, and one term as President.

Throughout these milestones, Jill Biden stood by her husband’s side. Together, they are now navigating their remaining time in the White House and what they hope to achieve.

As the administration proceeds towards its conclusion in mid-January, Jill Biden will continue focusing on her key initiatives. These include supporting military families through her Joining Forces initiative, combating cancer through the Biden Cancer Moonshot, promoting women’s health research, which was launched in November 2023, and enhancing educational opportunities.

Additionally, she is set to campaign for Harris in the upcoming fall elections.

Jill Biden has also redefined the role of a presidential spouse by being the first to hold a paying job outside of the White House. She has been an English and writing professor at Northern Virginia Community College since 2009 and is currently preparing her lesson plans for the upcoming semester.

The First Lady’s dedication to her role has seen her travel extensively, visiting over 40 states, more than 200 towns and cities, and 19 countries. Most recently, she led a delegation to support Team USA at the Olympic Games held in France.

In her first year as First Lady, she focused on encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations across the United States. Furthermore, in 2022, she made a significant trip to Ukraine to demonstrate U.S. solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people amidst Russia’s military aggression.