A bombshell book just dropped that paints First Lady Jill Biden as the power behind the throne while President Joe Biden’s political career crumbled.
The New York Post reported that newly released work by three prominent journalists unpacks the significant influence Jill Biden wielded in her husband’s administration, her protective stance amid his struggles, and the fallout from a disastrous debate performance that ultimately led to his decision to suspend his re-election campaign.
As detailed in “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” released on Tuesday, Jill Biden’s rise in political clout mirrored the twilight of her husband’s long career.
The book, penned by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, pulls back the curtain on a First Lady who wasn’t just a supportive spouse but a key player in the administration.
From the start, Jill Biden positioned herself as her husband’s fiercest defender, ensuring he ate his greens, stayed on schedule, and even grilled staff when she sensed missteps.
In one telling incident from January 2022, a Biden aide had to apologize after she questioned why a press conference dragged on too long. Now that’s a spouse who doesn’t mess around when it comes to keeping things tight.
Her influence wasn’t a solo act—Anthony Bernal, her chief of staff and senior advisor, rose alongside her, leading the East Wing with an iron grip.
The book suggests Bernal’s loyalty was so fierce that it often blurred the line between his views and hers, even stepping in to answer questions meant for the First Lady. Sounds like a gatekeeper who knew how to wield proximity to power.
Bernal’s role didn’t go unnoticed, landing him a subpoena to testify on July 16 before a committee probing an alleged cover-up of the president’s mental decline, with lawmakers arguing executive privilege didn’t shield him.
The book also claims Bernal accused veteran strategist Anita Dunn of disloyalty for pushing transparency about the Biden family. Loyalty over candor—classic insider politics, right?
Family loyalty extended beyond the White House, with the book revealing a near-total ban on discussing Hunter Biden during his federal trial in June, smack in the middle of the re-election campaign.
Jill Biden didn’t just stand by—she showed up, attending the first three days of the trial, jetting to France for a D-Day event with the president, then racing back to Wilmington for day five.
West Wing staffers were reportedly caught off guard by her attendance, as most senior aides hadn’t been clued in on her plans. This move screamed independence from the White House’s playbook, yet she had Bernal by her side, reinforcing her East Wing command.
Through it all, Jill Biden’s protective instincts never wavered, whether shielding her husband from staff blunders or standing by family during legal storms. But as the book lays out, the real test came after a debate performance against Donald Trump that left even loyalists wincing.
Following that debate debacle, Jill Biden emerged as her husband’s most unwavering champion, telling supporters at a fundraiser, “Joe isn’t just right for the job.”
She doubled down, insisting he was the only choice, as the book notes her resolve that the Democratic Party had to stick with him. Yet, one has to wonder if blind loyalty can paper over a performance that bad.
In the immediate aftermath, the Bidens retreated to Camp David for a pre-planned family trip in late June, taking stock of the damage. The book clarifies this wasn’t about contemplating an exit—dropping out “was not even a consideration,” as the authors put it. Still, assessing “how bad things were” suggests even the inner circle knew the ground was shifting.
Back in the public eye, Biden tried damage control with network TV interviews, chalking up the debate to a “bad night” and a cold, while admitting he needed more rest.
He even instructed staff to avoid scheduling events after 8 p.m., though he insisted, per the book, on staying in the race. For a party already jittery, that kind of stubbornness might inspire—or frustrate.
Less than a month after the debate, and just a week after an assassination attempt on Trump, Biden stunned the nation by announcing he was suspending his re-election bid. He later endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, a move that shifted the party’s trajectory overnight.