Jill Biden Describes Her East Wing Grief From ‘Every Blow of the Wrecking Ball’
The former first lady in a wide-ranging interview also talks about what happened in the 2024 presidential debate and her husband’s decision to step out of the race while promoting her new memoir.
The White House East Wing used to be situated on the east side of the Executive Residence, connected by the East Colonnade. A small building in stature, it stood opposite of the West Wing on the complex and served as the official public entrance into the White House and Office of the First Lady before President Donald Trump demolished it in October of 2025. But Dr. Jill Biden, who was the last first lady to work her husband’s full term from the space carved out for future first ladies by Rosalynn Carter in 1977, compares the destruction of the symbolic structure to that of stalked prey.
Ahead of the release of Biden’s second memoir View from the East Wing on Tuesday, the former first lady in a CBS Sunday Morning interview was asked what she thought of President Donald Trump’s White House East Wing destruction to make way for a ballroom.
“What do you think I think?” she quipped back in the interview that took place from the home she and former President Joe Biden share in Delaware.
The interview cuts away to an excerpt of the memoir where Dr. Biden writes about how she “felt a sense of loss and grief with every blow from the wrecking ball.”
She goes on to write: “The innards of the East Wing were spread out for everyone to see, like a rare and precious animal that had been hunted down and killed.”
“The innards of the East Wing were spread out for everyone to see, like a rare and precious animal that had been hunted down and killed.”
—Former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden
The title of her book, she noted in the interview, was not an accident. Indeed, she said, she thought “it was the perfect title for my book.”
“There was so much institutional memory in that building,” Biden said in the interview. “I loved the East Wing.”
The interview that aired on Sunday would go on to include other pressing questions like what happened with her husband in the devastating June 2024 presidential debate on CNN against the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. When asked just that, she explains she was afraid her husband was having a stroke, and that she didn’t know exactly what happened.
“I as I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke.’ And it scared me to death,” the former first lady said in the interview.
Despite support from family members and others, Mr. Biden’s poor performance and pressure from people in his own party would ultimately cause him to withdraw from the race. He endorsed his then-Vice President Kamala Harris, and not long thereafter, Harris was selected as the Democratic nominee with about three months left before Election Day.
But much has been speculated up until now about the first lady’s role in all of it. In the interview, she makes clear that it wasn’t her decision to make and even told her husband that she didn’t want him to have her opinion.
“It couldn’t be me. It had to be his decision,” Dr. Biden said in the interview. “Whether he stayed in or got out, he had to live with that the rest of his life. It had to be his decision alone. And, it was.”
Making matters worse, though, Dr. Biden said in the interview, was how hurtful it was to see many of the people they thought supported her husband come out and attack him, although she declined to name who specifically.
“He said, ‘Jilly, I had no choice,’” Dr. Biden recalled from their exchange after he made the decision to step out of the race. About that moment, the former first lady said she was “heartbroken.”
“He didn’t have the support of the Democratic Party,” Dr. Biden said in the interview. But, it wouldn’t be long before she was out campaigning for Harris, the new Democratic presidential nominee. On Election Night, Dr. Biden said she “was shocked that she didn’t win.”
During the interview, the reporter asked Dr. Biden if she ever saw signs of her husband falling into cognitive decline.
“No,” the former first lady said, who defended her husband when the reporter followed up stating that people were saying he wasn’t the same Joe Biden.
“Well, I don’t think that’s true,” Dr. Biden said of her 83-year-old husband. “He was the same, the essence of the same Joe Biden. But yeah, he was slowing down. He was getting older. I mean, we all observe that … It’s a very intense job. I think it ages you quickly.”
There were other moments in the interview when Dr. Biden talked about some of her upsides and pitfalls serving as first lady, a role that remains undefined and unpaid.
She described in the interview how she and her husband worked well “in tandem,” while at the same time having to walk a fine line as has every preceding first lady.
She recalled what it was like in her first year serving as first lady with her main focus on helping heal the nation emerging from the coronavirus pandemic. She traveled the country, sometimes accompanied by Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the president from 2021 to 2022, to encourage people to get vaccinated.
Dr. Biden also described a moment she would never forget—secretly meeting with Olena Zelenska, first lady of Ukraine and wife of President Volodymir Zelensky, in the early days of the Russian-led war with Ukraine. She recalled saying to the first lady that she brought her support from all the American people at that time.
The former first lady, the first presidential spouse to maintain her job as a community college English professor, also spoke of her support of the Biden administration’s efforts to make community college free. The policy, however, was unsuccessful and traded for funding for free early childhood education.
During her tenure as first lady, Dr. Biden attended the trial of her stepson Hunter Biden who was convicted on all three counts of federal gun charges linked to his drug use.
“Even though I had a really busy schedule, I did what any other parent would do, and that is support their child,” she said in the interview. Later, after Trump was elected, she also said she supported her husband pardoning Hunter out of fear that Trump would target their son.
“We just couldn’t let our son go to jail on a charge … that no one has ever gone to jail for,” she said.
Since leaving the White House, Dr. Biden said they are both keeping busy with speaking engagements and now promoting her book. She shares that she was “shocked” by her husband’s stage four prostate cancer diagnosis announced in May 2025 that has spread to the bone. She noted that he had amazing care at the White hHouse, but “somehow this was missed.”
“He will live with cancer the rest of his life,” she said in an interview on the Today show on Monday.
When asked about the current direction of the country, Dr. Biden believes there “has to be more civility” and that “she still has hope.”
Obama Foundation Announces Spaces Named for Leaders Who Inspire Young People to Civic Action
The Obama Foundation has announced a selection of spaces in the Obama Presidential Center, opening June 19, that will honor leaders who have inspired young people to make change. The named spaces are made possible through the generosity of individuals and organizations that are supporting the Center’s efforts to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of changemakers and tell the stories of those who influenced the journey of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, according to the foundation.
“President and Mrs. Obama’s story is only possible through the collective action and contributions of people who made their voices heard,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “We are grateful for our supporters who are honoring the lives and legacies of leaders upon whose shoulders we stand.”
The spaces include:
‘Toward A More Perfect Union’ Exhibit in the Obama Presidential Center Museum, in honor of Jane Addams: Located on Museum Level 2, and made possible by Joe and Rika Mansueto, this exhibit explores the push and pull of democratic progress, featuring artifacts and stories from historic civil and workers’ rights movements that shaped the Obamas’ values and paved the way for the 2008 election. It honors the Nobel Peace Prize-winning social reformer and founder of Chicago’s Hull House who advanced labor rights, protected vulnerable children, and championed immigrant advocacy, guided by her unwavering belief that democracy depends on shared responsibility and inclusion.
‘Yes We Can’ Exhibit in the Obama Presidential Center Museum, in honor of John W. Gardner: Also located on Museum Level 2, this immersive exhibit, made possible by Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling, captures the grassroots energy of the 2008 presidential campaign, featuring a film about the campaign and a display of 440 campaign buttons that honor the volunteers who fueled the movement. It honors the social reformer and former secretary of health, education, and welfare who championed lifelong learning, citizen participation, and the launch of Medicare.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Lobby at Home Court: Serving as the light-filled entrance to the Home Court programs and athletic center, this lobby, made possible by Northwestern Medicine, features a welcome desk, grand terrazzo staircase, and expansive views through glass windows from the Main Court. It honors the founder of the Special Olympics, who created global programs that promoted inclusion, empowerment, and opportunity for individuals historically overlooked by society.
Paul Farmer Special Exhibitions Gallery in the Obama Presidential Center: Located on the Lower Level of the Museum building, this dedicated space, made possible by the family of Jessie Reid Taylor, will host future rotating temporary exhibitions that deepen visitor engagement on campus. It honors the global health leader and Partners In Health co-founder who dedicated his life to the belief that healthcare is a human right. Dr. Farmer linked medicine with social justice to build health systems and proved effective care is possible in underserved communities worldwide, providing an example of radical compassion and resilience in solving our toughest challenges.
Other spaces at the center previously announced include Opening the White House Exhibit in the Obama Presidential Center Museum, in honor of Marian Robinson. the Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion and the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden.
Calendar
June 2, 2026
America at Night
David Lee, the CEO and president of the National First Ladies Library & Museum will be featured on the radio show America at Night at 10 p.m. EDT talking about its historic site and the ongoing Eras Exhibit. Tune in here
June 3, 2026
Cookin’ with Congress: Drink Like a First Lady
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents a one-of-a-kind, virtual mixology experience “Cookin’ with Congress: Drink Like a First Lady” with Bennett Rhea the viral creator behind “Cookin’ with Congress.” Step inside the private lives of America’s First Ladies—one cocktail at a time. Discover how drinks like Jackie Kennedy’s daiquiri and Dolley Madison’s Yard of Flannel offer insights into the personalities, eras, and cultural moments of the women who shaped history. Read more
June 4, 2026
Around the Family Table: Stories from Presidential Descendants
Friends of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library presents a new exhibit The American Experiment and an evening to hear stories from presidential descendants about their ancestors and their family legacies. The in-person event will take place on June 4, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. local time at the LBJ Presidential Library. A moderated conversation will feature Ulysses Grant Dietz, second great grandson of Ulysses S. Grant; Richard Gatchell, fifth great grandson of James Monroe; Massee McKinley, second great grandson of Grover Cleveland; Birch Taylor, second great grandson of Rutherford B. Hayes; and moderator Tweed Roosevelt, great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt. Read more
June 12, 2026
Legacy Lecture: Louisa Catherine Adams in America
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents an online, one-woman play at noon EDT on June 12, 2026, on Louisa Catherine Adams, one of America’s most fascinating first ladies performed by award-winning actress and historical interpreter Laura Rocklyn. Audiences will explore Louisa’s personal journey and consider her potential future as a widow. The year is 1848: John Quincy Adams has suffered a fatal stroke on the House floor, and Louisa reflects on her years in the White House, her decades of public service, and the sacrifices she made alongside her husband as he fought against slavery in the House of Representatives. Read more
June 12, 2026
Bush Birthday Celebration
Join the George and Barbara Bush Foundation on June 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum in College Station, Texas, for a family-friendly celebration honoring the birthdays of President and Mrs. Bush. The celebration will feature story hour with special guest readers, birthday cake, and refreshments. Read more
June 18, 2026
Third Thursday: First Ladies and Their Orchids
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents from 6 to 8 p.m. local time on June 18, 2026, an in-person Third Thursday program exploring Cattleya orchids named for America’s First Ladies. Arthur E. Chadwick highlights 19 consecutive first ladies, from Edith Bolling Wilson through today, celebrated with orchid hybrids, offering a unique perspective on history, horticulture, and legacy. The evening includes a presentation on a century of first ladies’ namesake orchids and a live show-and-tell of the plants. Read more
June 19, 2026
The Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening
There will be music, dancing, food, art and sports among the festivities planned for the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago taking place June 19 through 21.
The programming will offer diverse experiences connected to arts and culture, civics and democracy, gardening and food, and sports and well-being, according to the Obama Foundation.
Tickets to the museum are sold out for the opening, but no admission is required to attend the festival. Organizers are asking people to register for some events open to the public because of limited capacity. Read more
June 27, 2026
The Story of Arthurdale: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Vision of Community
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill presents the fundraising panel discussion “The Story of Arthurdale: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Vision of Community” on June 27, 2026, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. local time. Following an informal lunch, join the Eleanor Roosevelt Center and Arthurdale Heritage for a special fundraiser and panel discussion exploring the extraordinary history of Arthurdale and Eleanor Roosevelt’s enduring connection to the community she called her “pet project.”
The afternoon will feature a panel discussion with Franceska Urbin, Supervisory Park Ranger at National Park Service, and Elizabeth Satterfield, Curator and Director of Education at Arthurdale Heritage, and moderated by Anna Fierst, Board Chair of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center (ERVK). They will examine the origins of Arthurdale, Eleanor Roosevelt’s advocacy for struggling families during the Great Depression, and the continued relevance of her vision today. Read more
June 27, 2026
The Grants’ World Tour
The bicentennial celebration of Julia Dent Grant at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site at White Haven continues with a Ranger Talk on The Grants’ World Tour from 10 to 11 a.m. local time. For more information about the events call 314-842-1867.
June 27, 2026
First Ladies for Kids – Celebrate Ida McKinley
The National First Ladies Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, invites parents to bring their young historian to First Ladies for Kids in the First Ladies Park at the historic site from 11 to 11:30 a.m. local time.
The in-person, free monthly event is designed for children ages 7 to10. This month, Ida McKinley, a Canton native who became one of the most beloved first ladies of her era will be introduced with hands-on activities that bring history to life through creativity and play, a complimentary take-home workbook with interactive exercises in art, reading, spelling, and math, and exploration of the historic Saxton-McKinley House with a National Park Service Ranger. Registration is requested. Read more
Send calendar items, press releases and announcements to jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.