CLAWSOM, Mich. — Jill Biden immediately addressed the audience as she took to the microphone inside a Detroit area eatery, emphasizing the vitality and resilience of the city. “Some may have recently come to the Detroit area throwing insults, but from what I’ve witnessed, this is a vibrant, thriving city,” she asserted. This remark appeared to be a direct response to Republican Donald Trump’s recent derision of the city during his visit, wherein he derogatorily labeled it “a mess.”
The First Lady has reentered the political fray for the first time in several months, transitioning her focus from advocating for her husband, President Joe Biden, to ardently supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed after stepping away from his re-election efforts. Jill Biden recently concluded a five-day tour through five key battleground states, rallying support for Harris as the next presidential candidate.
Despite the shifting dynamics of the race, Jill Biden’s strategy remains consistent: to draw clear distinctions between the Democratic and Republican candidates, particularly against Trump. She aims to help prevent another Trump presidency and safeguard her husband’s legacy. During a campaign event in Clawson, located about 20 miles north of Detroit, Biden reminded the crowd of around 150 people about Trump’s disparaging remarks regarding Detroit.
In her speeches, Jill Biden dedicates significant time to praising Kamala Harris, highlighting their bond over shared experiences, including the loss of their mothers to cancer at an early age. “We both lost our mothers long before we were ready,” she recounted during her speech, fostering an emotional connection with the audience.
She further remarked on Harris’s qualifications, characterizing her as “a tough, compassionate, decisive leader.” Jill emphasized Harris’s past experiences, from her involvement in helping a friend during a traumatic youth ordeal to her professional achievements as a district attorney and California’s attorney general. Biden also underscored Harris’s ambitious plans focused on reducing living costs by addressing corporate greed and proposing significant down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
Turning her attention to the critical issues facing women today, Jill Biden expressed how heartbroken she felt when the Supreme Court, influenced by Trump’s presidencies, undermined women’s constitutional rights to abortion. She praised Harris for her pivotal role as the administration’s advocate for abortion and reproductive rights over the past two years, affirming that “the government shouldn’t dictate what women do with their bodies.” Jill Biden voiced confidence that under Harris’s presidency, a national law would be enacted to restore reproductive rights across all states.
Biden utilized a recent break from her teaching commitments at Northern Virginia Community College to embark on this intensive campaign journey. This marked her first significant campaign activity since President Biden announced in July that he would not seek re-election and would back Harris instead. During her five-day tour, which took her through Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin, she engaged with campaign volunteers, even bringing cookies to some gatherings, and concluded in Pennsylvania.
In speaking engagements, Jill Biden did not shy away from critiquing Trump. Referencing a recent event in Madison, Wisconsin, where the audience reacted negatively at the mention of Trump, she stated, “I even hate to say it.” She portrayed Trump as self-centered, declaring, “Donald Trump wakes up every morning thinking about one person and one person only: Himself!” She expressed concern that a second term for Trump would result in increased division and chaos. “He wants to lower taxes for the wealthy while costs soar for everyday people,” she noted, pointing out the long-term implications for the next president in naming new Supreme Court justices.
Encouraging her audience to prioritize early voting, Jill emphasized the competitive nature of the upcoming election: “It’s going to be close, and every vote counts.” During her time in Pennsylvania, she also joined phone bank volunteers, actively participating in campaign calls. After her community college address, she met President Biden in Philadelphia, who also focused on bolstering Harris’s campaign. “Kamala Harris has been an exemplary vice president, and she will certainly be an exceptional president,” Jill Biden affirmed at a Democratic gathering.