Jill Biden to Head Delegation to Olympics Opening Ceremony
Plus, Melania Trump to attend GOP convention and Dolley Madison photograph may be the first of a first lady.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will lead the delegation to the Opening of the Olympic Games, the White House announced today. The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 26, 2024.
President Joe Biden noted the designation of four Presidential Delegations to Paris, France to attend the Opening and Closing ceremonies and events of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mr. Douglas Emhoff, second gentleman of the United States, will lead the delegation to the Closing of the Olympic Games. The Closing Ceremony will take place on August 11, 2024.
Tammy Duckworth, United States senator from Illinois, will lead the delegation to the Opening of the Paralympic Games. The Opening Ceremony will take place on August 28, 2024.
And, Xavier Becerra, secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, will lead the delegation to the closing of the Paralympic Games. The Closing Ceremony will take place on September 8, 2024.
The individual members of each presidential delegation will be announced at a later date, according to the White House.
Jill Biden Calls for ‘Collective Strength’ During NATO Spousal Luncheon
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden Wednesday told spouses and partners of leaders from the 75th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit during a brunch she hosted at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., that "this moment in history calls for our collective strength.”
As conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Gaza continue to rage on, the first lady spoke for about 7 minutes about the unity among the group seated at round tables in a museum atrium. Biden hoped “that we, too, can forge the kind of partnerships where we can always reach out to one another and take each other's hands and share in the challenges and the joys as our roles as first spouses."
Expected attendees included:
Linda Rama, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania
Annik Penders, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Belgium
Sanja Musić Milanović, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Croatia
Eva Pavlová, First Lady of the Czech Republic
Bo Tengberg, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Denmark
Arvo Hallik, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia
Amélie Fédérique Derbaudrenghien, Spouse of the President of the European Council
Suzanne Innes-Stubb, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland
Britta Ernst, Spouse of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic
Thóra Margrét Baldvinsdóttir, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iceland
Kim Keon Hee, First Lady of the Republic of Korea
Diana Nausėdienė, First Lady of the Republic of Lithuania
Marjolijne Frieden, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Milena Tošić, Partner of the Prime Minister of Montenegro
Ingrid Schulerud, Spouse of the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Poland
Carla Montenegro, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic
Tina Gaber, Partner of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
Birgitta Kristersson Ed, Spouse of the Prime Minister of Sweden
Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye
Lady Victoria Starmer, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine
During the visit, the spouses had the opportunity to see the Entertainment Nation exhibit, which features a collection of theater, music, sports, and movie and TV objects. There, the spouses viewed some of the museum’s collections with curators.
Opened in December of 2022, this permanent exhibit explores how, for over 150 years, entertainment has provided a forum for important national conversations. Objects are from culture makers such as Muhammad Ali and Ali Wong, Tejana singer Selena, Star Wars’ C-3PO and R2-D2 and the enduring magical pull of the Ruby Slippers, and the charm of the first Muppets.
During her remarks, the first lady noted that very few of them in the room probably could have predicted that they would be "supporting partners" one day to people leading the world.
When her husband was first elected vice president and then president, Biden said she was initially "out of my comfort zone." But she knew it would be an "incredible opportunity" and promised herself she would "never waste my platform."
The first lady spoke about issues important to her, including the work she's done with military families and her "Joining Forces" initiative. She said the fight to end cancer was also important to her family and she mentioned women's health as another topic of interest.
She said she looked forward to learning more about "what drives you" and how they could all continue to support one another.
"Our work is always better when we do it together."
Weekly Wrap
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CNN
Melania Trump to Attend Republican Convention in Milwaukee Next Week
July 11, 2024 — Former First Lady Melania Trump is planning to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week, making a rare campaign appearance alongside her husband, former President Donald Trump, two sources familiar with the plans tell CNN. Read more
Newsweek
Melania Trump Less Influential in Campaign Than Jill Biden: Poll
July 11, 2024 — Americans believe First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is more influential in her husband's presidential campaign than former First Lady Melania Trump is in her husband's, according to a new poll. Read more
C-SPAN
The Bidens Host Arrival Ceremony for NATO Allies at White House
July 10, 2024 — President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted an official arrival ceremony for NATO allies and partners at the White House. Participating leaders from non-NATO countries included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and others. This ceremony occurred amid a NATO summit in Washington, D.C. that marked the 75th anniversary of the alliance. View here
The Associated Press
The First Lady Is Helping to Salvage Her Husband’s Campaign. Will It Be Enough?
July 10, 2024 — Campaigning for her husband in Florida, Jill Biden took a break to get some tea.
She was on the second stop of a three-state swing and reporters traveling with her had tried multiple times to get her to talk to them. They were curious about what she’d tell the Democrats who were so rattled by President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance that they were calling on him to drop his reelection bid. Leaving a coffee shop after having hibiscus tea with Tampa’s mayor, the first lady paused on the walk to her vehicle and turned to face the reporters who were lobbing questions her way. Read more
East Wing Magazine
New Museum Gift Shop Unveils First Ladies Ornaments
July 10, 2024 — A recently unveiled expanded gift shop at the National First Ladies Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, just dropped new visitor favorites—first ladies holiday ornaments commemorating sitting First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and former First Ladies Melania Trump and Michelle Obama. Read more
FOX News
Jill Biden's Former Press Secretary Says First Lady 'Alone Won't Make This Decision' for Biden to Stay in Race
July 10, 2024 — First Lady Dr. Jill Biden's former press secretary, Michael LaRosa, said Tuesday that President Biden will likely remain adamant about staying in the race despite increasing pressure on him to step down.
"This is his decision," LaRosa said on "Jesse Watters Primetime" when asked about speculation that the president's wife was the motivating force behind him refusing to withdraw. Read more
NPR
This Portrait of Dolley Madison Might Be the First Photo of a First Lady
July 9, 2024 — The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., has acquired an image of Dolley Madison, believed to be the first photograph of a U.S. first lady. Read more
Page Six
Melania Trump Hosts Trump Tower Penthouse Fundraiser for Log Cabin Republicans, Raises $1.4M
July 9, 2024 — Former—and possibly future—first lady Melania Trump “stunned all in attendance” at a Trump Tower fund-raiser this week, wearing a “fire engine red Valentino dress with appliqué flowers in the same fabric and Christian Louboutin pumps,” said a spy.
Melania hosted an intimate gathering of megadonors at her and her husband’s penthouse to drum up donations to the Log Cabin Republicans, the conservative LGBT group. A guest told us, “Hors d’oeuvres and Champagne flowed as the first lady generously welcomed the guests to her home with off-the-cuff remarks,” highlighting her and Donald Trump’s support for the group. Read more
CBS News
First Lady Jill Biden Steps Up Role on Campaign Trail
July 8, 2024 — As questions swirl around President Biden's candidacy, Jill Biden is stepping up on the campaign trail. CBS News campaign reporter Shawna Mizelle has more on what the first lady is saying to supporters. View here