Jill Biden acknowledged Monday that her husband Joe Biden made the “right decision” to decline his bid for re-election as president.
In a candid interview with good morning americathe first lady spoke candidly about her feelings as her family's stay in the White House comes to an end.
“It's been a great four years,” she told ABC News' Deborah Roberts. “Really, it's been the honor of our lives. It can be hard to walk away from that, but we're starting a new chapter in our lives. A new journey.”
She added: “It was time to start something new. It was the right decision.”
Jill Biden's comments marked the first time she mentioned her 81-year-old husband's decision to withdraw from the Nov. 5 presidential election due to concerns about his age. This clears the way for Kamala Harris, 60, to run against Donald Trump, 78, who is seeking a return to the White House after losing the presidency to Biden in 2020.
In an interview Monday, Jill Biden said she was excited about the prospect of Harris becoming president.
“There’s a lot of energy there,” she said. “Kamala Harris will win this, and it will be a new chapter for the White House.”
Harris' campaign has raised a record $1 billion since entering the race. But polling averages show that Harris and Trump are effectively deadlocked as Election Day approaches.
Jill Biden also spoke Monday about the revamped public tours offered by the White House.
The updated tour aims to offer a more “immersive” experience, featuring 3D renderings, touchable artifacts, and interactive displays of the building's rich history. She said her career as a university English professor with 40 years of experience as an educator influenced the new design's interactive elements.
“As an educator, I walk through these halls every day and think, 'Look, we need more vibrancy and life,'” Jill Biden told ABC. he said.
“What's important to me is that people learn about the White House and the presidency.”
Jill Biden said the new tour aims to offer something for all learners, whether they are “visual,” “auditory,” or “tactile.”
“Throughout the entire tour, we've tried to work on that. If there's any strength, that's what we learn from,” Jill Biden told ABC.
Tour upgrades were carried out in collaboration with the History Channel and the National Park Service. It is now open to the public.
