Former CNN journalist criticizes Jill Biden for her new memoir: ‘An act of extreme selfishness’

Nia Marika Henderson Critiques Jill Biden’s Memoir

Former CNN political reporter Nia Marika Henderson has criticized Jill Biden in her new memoir, calling it “an extremely selfish act” and accusing her of contributing to the cover-up regarding concerns about President Joe Biden’s fitness for office as he campaigns for re-election.

In her column for Bloomberg, Henderson claims that Jill Biden’s book, titled “View From the East Wing,” supports suspicions that she privately acknowledged her husband’s decline while publicly asserting his capability to serve another term. Henderson states, “In his memoir, Mr. Biden effectively confirmed speculation that he was involved in a cover-up,” highlighting the contradiction between public confidence in Biden’s fitness and private doubts about his health and leadership.

Henderson, who has spent years analyzing presidential campaigns, pointed out excerpts from Biden’s memoir that detail the aftermath of a troubling debate against Donald Trump in June 2024. The memoir reveals that Jill Biden was concerned her husband might be having a stroke during the debate.

She recalled, “Is this a stroke?” as she observed him struggling on stage. Additionally, she questioned whether he had been “drugged,” fearing that viewers might take his performance as reflective of his general capacity.

For Henderson, these revelations undermine earlier reassurances from Biden’s supporters about the president’s age and cognitive abilities. She noted that public apprehensions regarding Biden’s age had already been expressed prior to the debate, with many Americans doubting his capability to serve another four years.

“This debate only reinforced what Americans have been telling Biden supporters for years: the president is no longer up to the job,” she asserted.

One notable moment described in the memoir features a post-debate conversation where Biden tells Jill, “You really messed up, didn’t you?” to which she replies, “Yes, I do.” Henderson argues that this exchange diminishes attempts to frame the debate as merely an unfortunate incident.

The column contained pointed criticisms about the Bidens’ apparent determination to hold onto power despite increasing concerns about the president’s health. Henderson remarked that the Biden family’s “arrogance, privilege, and reckless determination” contributed to their prolonged hold on power.

She observed that his decision to remain in the race left the Democratic Party unprepared for his eventual withdrawal, which facilitated Trump’s comeback. Henderson also highlighted Jill Biden’s acknowledgment of her own thoughts about possibly serving as a one-term “bridge” to new Democratic leadership, which adds to her perceived indecisiveness.

In closing, Henderson delivered a harsh evaluation of Jill Biden’s legacy, questioning whether she served her husband and the country effectively. She concluded, “The answer to both questions is no.”