by Frank Holmes, reporter
Ever since President Joe Biden’s debate debacle on June 27, two questions have been burning in the minds of American everywhere: Will Joe Biden make it through the 2024 presidential campaign? If not, who will replace him?
We may have learned the answer to both of those questions in the two weeks since then—in fact, the truth seems to be hiding in plain sight.
If the Biden family gets its way, he won’t be replaced…because he’s already been replaced.
The person making the decisions that affect hundreds of millions of Americans—and billions around the world—may just be someone who’s never been elected dog catcher: First Lady Jill Biden.
She all-but announced it at a Monday campaign stop in North Carolina.
“Joe has made it clear that he’s all in! That’s a decision that he’s made!” said “Dr.” Jill, as the crowd chanted “Four more years!”
Her words, which were meant to reassure the crowd, raised questions of their own.
“Jill Biden is now campaigning for Joe since he’s unable to appear in public without embarrassing himself,” said Paul Szypula. “If that’s true then why isn’t Joe the one giving the speech?”
But then she said something really startling.
“He has always supported my career,” Jill told the crowd. “I am all in, too!”
What exactly does the 2024 presidential race have to do with Jill Biden’s “career”? And why would she have to be “all in”?
Jill Biden is now campaigning for Joe since he’s unable to appear in public without embarrassing himself.
Jill said, “He’s all in.”
If that’s true then why isn’t Joe the one giving the speech?pic.twitter.com/sE5xLEdrGv
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 8, 2024
If she’s the candidate, unlike the egomanic washed up actress in Sunset Boulevard, she’s not ready for her close-up. She sounds more like Greta Garbo: “I vant to be alone!”
At a campaign stop later that day in Tampa, Florida, the only Biden who appears to be campaigning confronted a team of reporters, demanding, “Why are you yelling at me?! You know me. Just let me talk!”
That’s only a few ticks more civilized than telling the media, “Shut up!”
First lady Jill Biden to reporters:
"Why are you screaming at me? You know me. Don't scream at me, just let me talk." pic.twitter.com/Ubl9T2HGkD
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) July 8, 2024
What about his presidency? Insiders are sounding the warning that Joe Biden hasn’t been in charge for a long time…and maybe doesn’t even get consulted on major decisions.
“It’s unclear even to some inside the West Wing policy process which policy issues reach the president, and how,” reported Semafor.com, a website said to be connected to deep intelligence sources. “Major decisions go into an opaque circle that includes White House chief of staff, Jeff Zients (who talks to the president regularly) and return concluded.”
“The big exception to this pattern, [this person] said, is foreign policy,” which Biden has always shown a serious interest in. After all, his family has some serious financial interests in his decisions.
The source, whom Semafor describes as someone who has “no reputation for being involved in factional fights on hot button issues, and no obvious ulterior motive for picking up the phone,” stood by Biden, even if he’s not standing up for himself.
“‘I’m super proud of the policies,’ the person said. ‘I’m talking to you because I’m incredibly upset and scared for the country and I would like to do what I can.’”
This source—whoever it is—is not alone.
In fact, multiple White House employees say “they’re surprised by the lack of briefings to the president, and of readouts from consultations with the president and worry about the possibility of decisions ‘being made without him.’”
If Biden isn’t calling the shots, who is?
Is it Jeff Zients, Susan Rice, or other virtually anonymous D.C. insiders, most of them tied to Barack Obama? “Have they been running a shadow government” asked Rep James Comer, R-Ky, who is the chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, the people’s watchdog investigating corruption and lawbreaking in the Oval Office.
Or is it possible that in all of our—and Joe’s—confusion, Jill Biden has gone from the First Lady to the First Lady President?
The clues have been stacking up.
Jill Biden released a picture of herself in June 2021 peering through her ‘70s Liberated Woman glasses at a stack of papers apparently sitting at the president’s desk on Air Force One, with the caption, “Prepping for the G7.”
Why is she prepping for a meeting with global leaders?
Prepping for the G7. pic.twitter.com/drPmb2vBwI
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) June 9, 2021
Jill Biden in the president's desk on Air Force 1. That's Joe's jacket behind her. Probably just a coincidence pic.twitter.com/fVcC1bHXft
— TexasAmerica (@TexasAmerica) July 9, 2024
If a picture doesn’t speak 1,000 words, then follow the money.
Jill is staffing up like a president-in-waiting—and making you pay for it.
“Jill Biden’s staff increased by four employees, to 24 this year,” up from eight in 2022—and far more than Melania Trump’s 11, reported the government watchdog OpenTheBooks.com. “Jill Biden’s staff included a foreign policy advisor, multiple policy directors, a couple speechwriters, press secretary, communications and trip directors, schedulers, women’s health and cancer advisors, and other ‘helpers.’”
If you can’t follow the money, will you listen to the music?
Jill Biden had the Marine Corps band play her very own version of “Hail to the Chief” every time she arrived at a location. At each of her appearances, the band struck up a freshly written tune called “Fanfare for the First Lady.” (“We didn’t ask for it!” insisted Jill’s press secretary.)
But sources told The Washington Examiner, “The song was removed” from the First Lady’s stops “quietly following the publication of this article” in 2022.
Maybe Jill Biden has gotten tired of hearing an imitation “Hail to the Chief!” Maybe she wants all the marbles now that Joe has lost his.
One thing is certain: If Donald Trump becomes president, voters know who’s in charge.
If Joe Biden, or any other Democrat, gets elected in November, who’s really running the show is anybody’s guess.