Jill Biden is opening up about one of the most scrutinized moments of her husband’s presidency.

In a recent interview, the former first lady spoke candidly about Joe Biden’s widely discussed 2024 presidential debate performance against Donald Trump, which quickly raised concerns about his health and fitness for office.

Reflecting on the moment, Jill revealed that as she watched Biden struggle onstage, she feared he may have been having a stroke.

Jill Biden Says Husband Joe’s Debate Scared Her

Jill is reflecting on the headline-making moment her husband faltered during the 2024 presidential debate.

Speaking with CBS News, the former first lady said the moment was frightening for her because she had never seen Joe like that before.

“I was frightened, because I had never, ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never,” Jill told the outlet’s Rita Braver in an interview.

Even now, Jill said she still does not know what led to the incident, but she will likely never forget how it made her feel.

“I don’t know what happened,” she added. “As I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh, my God, he’s having a stroke.’ And it scared me to death.”

Joe Biden Faced Mounting Pressure After The Debate

Biden’s performance during the debate immediately sparked widespread questions about his health and ability to lead the country for another four years.

His team’s explanation that he had been unwell did little to quiet the concerns, and Jill’s public praise of his performance at a post-debate rally failed to convince, either.

Even Kamala Harris, who was serving as vice president at the time, acknowledged that Biden had a “slow start,” while still urging voters not to judge him solely by the debate.

In the weeks that followed, pressure continued to mount from within the Democratic Party, further fueled by other public missteps, including one at a NATO summit.

Ultimately, Biden withdrew from the race on July 21, 2024, and endorsed Harris to take up the mantle as the Democratic nominee.

Jill Biden Faces Backlash Over Debate Comments

Jill’s candid comments have not gone down well with many of her husband’s critics, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt claimed she still has questions to answer about what she knew regarding Joe’s health and when she knew it.

“The former first lady should certainly speak up about what she saw in regard to her husband and when she saw it and what she knew, because I think anybody looking again at the videos and photo evidence of Joe Biden with your own eyes and a little bit of common sense can see this was a clear cover-up,” Leavitt said.

She also accused Jill of continuing to mislead the public by insisting that Joe was fine.

“She still thinks the American public are so stupid that they’re going to believe her lies. And frankly, it’s insulting, and she needs to answer for it,” Leavitt added.

Jill Prepares To Release New Memoir

Jill is also preparing to release her new memoir, which is expected to include more reflections on her and her husband’s time in the White House.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Jill described the book as a “reflection of my four years as First Lady.” She also said the writing process was healing, as it allowed her to revisit some of the most meaningful moments from Joe’s presidency.

“It was kind of cathartic for me to write it, and I wrote about all the, you know, sometimes painful — but other times, most of it really beautiful moments that Joe and I shared during his presidency,” the children’s book author shared.

The memoir is set to hit bookshelves on June 2.

Jill Biden Opens Up About Joe’s Cancer Battle

Since leaving office, Joe has maintained a relatively low-key lifestyle, which appears to have been shaped in part by his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer last year.

While the former president is currently receiving treatment, Jill admitted that the diagnosis came as a shock to her.

She also shared that his cancer can only be managed for now, while expressing her hope that they can simply enjoy the rest of their lives together.

“The fact that it is in his bones means that he will have cancer, you know, all his lifetime,” Jill said. “Like most retired couples, he’ll probably drive me crazy till the end of it.”