Former Jill Biden spokesperson Michael LaRosa said Sunday that the first lady's credibility took a hit after she made contradictory remarks about President Joe Biden during a promotional tour for her new memoir, raising questions about her truthfulness.
“The problem for her is … she is saying something completely different now that only invites the rest of us to ask, ‘Was she telling the truth then or is she telling the truth now?’” LaRosa told CNN’s “CNN Newsroom.” “And unfortunately, this has done her more harm than good for her credibility.”
In a recent interview with CBS, Jill Biden claimed she thought then-President Biden was having a “stroke” during his first debate against Donald Trump on the 2024 campaign trail. She also said he was “slowing down” over the course of his presidency due to the job's intensity. The remarks come just days before the release of her book, “Views from the East Wing: A Memoir.”
Trust and Contradiction
LaRosa, who served as her spokesperson for years, argued that a memoir from a former first lady should help rebuild trust and credibility. “But this is certainly not helping her,” he added. He noted that Jill Biden was previously the “face and voice” of the Biden campaign’s response to the debate, making her current admissions seem “a little disingenuous.”
The former spokesperson also criticized the Biden family’s handling of the president’s withdrawal from the race. “They were essentially dropping out and leaving the ticket high and dry after he’d been running for reelection for over a year. What they did was really unprecedented and very historic in terms of a political campaign selfishness for their own party,” LaRosa said.
He added, “It didn’t do, it wasn’t helpful to, and it is sad because he had a 50-year career. It is sad for everybody to see it end this way. But these were the choices they made.”
Jill Biden’s new book has drawn sharp scrutiny, with some political analysts linking her credibility concerns to broader questions about transparency in the Biden administration. For more on related credibility issues, see how the Hormuz deal risks eroding US credibility. Additionally, the former first lady’s claim about a stroke echoes earlier reports, such as her revelation of a shocking missed cancer diagnosis.
The controversy has also sparked reaction from political rivals. Former President Trump mocked Jill Biden’s “stroke” claim, hinting his debate performance caused Biden’s collapse, as reported in Trump’s response to the claim.
LaRosa’s comments underscore a growing rift between the Biden inner circle and former staff, as the memoir tour continues to generate more questions than answers about the president’s health and the family’s decision-making during the 2024 campaign.
