A new book has been released that delves into the increasing political influence of First Lady Jill Biden during the concluding period of her husband’s presidency, suggesting that she held a notable position as President Joe Biden faced questions about his cognitive health.
The book, titled “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” was published on Tuesday, July 8, by journalists Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, Tyler Pager of The New York Times, and Isaac Arnsdorf of The Washington Post. It highlights Jill Biden’s significant involvement within her husband’s administration as his political role was winding down.
As reported by the New York Post, the book suggests that Jill Biden’s political stature grew alongside her husband’s perceived cognitive decline, particularly following his crucial debate performance in June 2024. The book documents that the first lady reassured donors after the debate by stating, “He’s the only person for the job.”
A key figure in the first lady’s growing influence was Anthony Bernal, her chief of staff and senior advisor, who also served as an assistant to the president. The book describes Bernal’s loyalty to Jill Biden and his use of their relationship to exert influence throughout the administration. The authors note that it was sometimes unclear whether Bernal’s stated views were his own or those of the first lady, as he occasionally answered questions meant for her.
Bernal became a subject of congressional investigation when he was subpoenaed to testify on July 16 after declining to appear before a House committee investigating the alleged cover-up of Biden’s cognitive condition.
The book also describes tensions within the administration, particularly between Bernal and Democratic strategist Anita Dunn. The authors portray Bernal as accusing Dunn of disloyalty due to her support for transparency regarding the Biden family, highlighting internal disagreements over handling sensitive issues.
Jill Biden’s independent decision-making was evident in her frequent attendance at Hunter Biden’s federal trial in June 2024. The book notes how she enforced a near-total ban on discussions about Hunter, even as his trial coincided with Joe Biden’s re-election campaign.
Jill Biden attended the trial’s first three days and then traveled to France to join the president for the D-Day commemoration. She returned to Wilmington, Delaware, less than 24 hours later for the trial’s fifth day. The book mentions that her presence surprised West Wing staff, with many senior aides unaware of her plans, illustrating her willingness to act independently of White House staff.
The book’s disclosures emerge amid wider scrutiny of the Biden administration’s handling of the president’s age and cognitive issues. Congressional investigations are underway to examine allegations of a cover-up regarding Biden’s mental condition, with nine former senior White House officials expected to testify in the coming weeks.
Further insights from the book detail the administration’s alleged attempts to manage information and protect the president from media scrutiny. In one incident documented by co-author Tyler Pager, Biden’s team took steps to change the president’s personal phone number after Pager reached him directly for an interview in March. The incident led to Biden aides blocking Pager’s number and disconnecting the president’s phone line within two days.
The book adds to a series of publications analyzing the 2024 election and Biden presidency. Other recent works include “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, and “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House” by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes.
The revelations in “2024” contribute to ongoing discussions about the inner workings of the Biden administration and raise questions about the influence of unelected officials during the presidency’s final months. The book’s focus on Jill Biden’s expanding role provides insight into the administration’s power dynamics as it faced increasing political challenges.