Jill Biden Fiercely Defends Her Husband in Michigan Campaign Stop Amid Debate Fallout
Jill Biden Fiercely Defends Her Husband in Michigan Campaign Stop Amid Debate Fallout
The first lady spotlights a summer camp nutrition program supported by the Biden Administration.
At a campaign stop in Traverse City, Michigan, Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden told a crowd of supporters after a long, loud applause that her husband, President Joe Biden, has no intention of stepping aside after a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
"Because there's a lot of talk out there, let me repeat what my husband has said plainly and clearly: Joe is the Democratic nominee and he is going to beat Donald Trump, just like he did in 2020," she said. "Are you ready to help me?" The crowd cheered.
"Joe has been knocked down and counted out his whole life, but when he gets knocked down, he gets back up. When he gets counted out, he works harder. And that's what he's doing, but he needs your help."
—First Lady Dr. Jill Biden
She added: "Joe has been knocked down and counted out his whole life, but when he gets knocked down, he gets back up. When he gets counted out, he works harder. And that's what he's doing, but he needs your help."
The first lady was introduced by “local dignitary” Chasten Buttigieg, the spouse of United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The event marked the opening of the 45th coordinated campaign office in Michigan.
Chasten Buttigieg talked about growing up in Northern Michigan and being a "closeted queer kid wondering if you would ever be able to call this place home." He praised the Biden-Harris administration for leading "the most LBGTQ-inclusive administration in America's history" to massive applause.
Buttigieg also addressed the fallout from the debate performance: "I know there's been some hand-wringing the last few days, but you cannot be wringing your hands while you're rolling up your sleeves," he said to cheers.
Ed Duggan, Michigan's Coordinated Campaign State Director, talked about the election's stakes, noting this week's Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. "The things that Donald Trump says himself, like be a dictator on Day One—it's now easier if you look at yesterday's [decision]," he said.
The first lady thanked volunteers for their support. "We don't choose our chapter of history, but we can choose who leads us through it," she said. "The choice in this election is clear. Donald Trump's vision for America is chaos, corruption, and telling lie after lie."
At an earlier stop at Camp Manitou-Lin in Middleville, Michigan, Dr. Biden attended an event “to spotlight programs that the Biden Administration has implemented to help ensure kids do not go hungry when school is out,” according to the White House.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) welcomed the first lady to the camp, where she listened to Steve Sallese, the camp’s food service director, and Lisa Vanputten, the kitchen manager. Sallese talked about the camp’s implementation of the new SUN Meals program that provides 270 lunches each day at the facility. He explained that the kitchen smokes its own pork for the campers and uses a lot of local Michigan produce. The barbecue sauce, he says, is made with Michigan cherries. Dr. Biden tells him to tip the pan of pork he’s been showing her toward the press and gives an enthusiastic “yes!” when he says it’s better to serve children this kind of dish instead of processed food.
Luke Gerke, the camp’s executive director, praised the SUN programs for ensuring “equitable access for all kids,” because “all kids deserve camp.”
The first lady reminisced about her summers at Girl Scout camp before describing the problems of food insecurity facing children when they’re out of school. She talked about how the Biden Administration has been fighting to lower grocery bills at a time when grocery retailers were seeing record profits.
Located on Barlow Lake in Middleville, YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin offers summer camp, outdoor education, seasonal camps and activities, and corporate and group retreats. YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin receives funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SUN Meals program, which provides kids with meals and snacks at no cost at summer meal sites like schools and parks, as kids lose access to federally-funded free and reduced-price meals provided at schools during the academic year. The camp typically serves approximately 300 campers with federally-funded USDA SUN Meals each day over the summer.
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