First Lady Jill Biden Criticized for Showing Up to Joe’s First Cabinet Meeting in a Year
By Mick Farthing|September 23, 2024
First Lady Jill Biden Criticized for Showing Up to Joe’s First Cabinet Meeting in a Year

It’s been no secret that the Biden administration has struggled. From the economy to foreign policy, the cracks have been showing for quite some time. Inflation continues to hit American families hard, the southern border is in crisis, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster of epic proportions.

Yet, despite all this turmoil, there’s been one thing notably missing: leadership. President Biden hasn’t held a full cabinet meeting in nearly a year. In fact, the last time his administration gathered the top officials in one room, the world was a much different place.

This kind of absence is baffling. After all, the role of the president is to lead, and the cabinet is meant to provide counsel, coordinate efforts, and make sure the government runs smoothly.

But it seems like the Biden administration prefers to operate in the shadows, avoiding direct accountability. And when they finally do get the band back together? It’s not the president leading the charge—it’s Jill Biden.

From Daily Wire:
First lady Jill Biden was slammed on social media Friday afternoon after she participated in the first cabinet meeting that the Biden-Harris administration has held in nearly a full year.

Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros posted on X: “I’m unsure which part is more disturbing. 1. That the White House held its first Cabinet meeting in a year; or… 2. Jill Biden is leading the first White House Cabinet meeting in a year.”

Jill Biden at the Helm: What’s Going On?

Last Friday, after almost a year of cabinet silence, First Lady Jill Biden stepped in to lead a cabinet meeting, much to the shock and confusion of many Americans. President Biden introduced his wife, calling attention to the fact that this was the first time she had attended such a meeting.

“It goes to show how important the issue is, which she is about to speak to,” Biden said, before handing over the reins with a casual, “It’s all yours, kid.”

But this wasn’t just a speech at a dinner party. This was a meeting of the president’s top officials—one that hadn’t occurred in almost a year. And many were left asking the same question: why Jill?

Fox News commentator Andrea Tantaros took to social media to express what many were thinking. “I’m unsure which part is more disturbing,” she wrote. “That the White House held its first Cabinet meeting in a year; or… Jill Biden is leading the first White House Cabinet meeting in a year.”

A Storm of Criticism

The backlash was swift and fierce. Political commentator and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy noted the absurdity of the situation. “The same number of people have voted for Jill Biden to be President as have voted for Kamala: zero,” he wrote.

“Their new rule appears to be: the fewer votes you’ve earned, the more power you get to exercise.” It’s a fair point—Jill Biden wasn’t elected, and yet here she was, overseeing the first full cabinet meeting in ages.

Commentator Mary Katharine Ham didn’t hold back either. “Oh neat, an unelected person married to the mostly incapacitated elected president is overseeing the first Cabinet meeting in forever,” she quipped.

The optics of the situation are undeniably bad. It raises questions about who’s really running the show behind the scenes. If the president can’t lead his own cabinet, why should the American people trust him to lead the country?

A Comparison to Edith Wilson

It didn’t take long for critics to draw comparisons between Jill Biden and Edith Wilson, the wife of former President Woodrow Wilson, who took on an unofficial leadership role after her husband suffered a stroke.

Columnist Marc Thiessen pointed out the parallels, noting that Jill Biden has no official position or authority to be running a cabinet meeting. “She is not elected, has no official position, is not even a government employee. WTH is she doing running a cabinet meeting?” he asked.

The sentiment was echoed by many, including Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL), who asked the blunt but obvious question: “Who is running the country?” It’s a question worth asking. If the president isn’t fully capable of managing his own administration, who is stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum? And why is that person the first lady?

Media Bias and Double Standards

Of course, the media’s response to this bizarre situation has been predictably one-sided. MSNBC, known for its fawning coverage of the Biden administration, was quick to defend Jill Biden’s role in the cabinet meeting.

But media analyst Joe Concha wasn’t having it. “If this was Melania Trump, these same ‘reporters’ would melt into an unrecognizable pile of goo,” he said, slamming the hypocrisy.

The double standard is clear. If a Republican first lady had stepped into such a position, the media would have called it inappropriate, unconstitutional, and undemocratic. But when it’s Jill Biden, they frame it as a loving, supportive wife stepping in to help the president.

The Bigger Picture

At the heart of this story is a larger concern about leadership—or the lack thereof. The Biden administration is floundering on multiple fronts, and the fact that it’s taken nearly a year to gather the cabinet for a meeting is alarming in itself. That Jill Biden led the meeting only deepened the sense that something was seriously wrong in the White House.

The American people deserve transparency, accountability, and leadership from their elected officials. When none of those things are happening, it raises serious concerns about the direction of the country.

With questions mounting about Biden’s ability to govern, Friday’s cabinet meeting was less reassuring and more of a red flag. Who’s really in charge? The answer remains frustratingly unclear.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jill Biden led the first full cabinet meeting in almost a year, sparking criticism.
  • Critics question why the unelected First Lady is taking on such a significant role.
  • Comparisons to Edith Wilson and concerns about Biden’s leadership are growing.

Source: Daily Wire


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Mick Farthing
Mick is a freelance writer, cartoonist, and graphic designer. He is a regular contributor for the Patriot Journal.
Mick is a freelance writer, cartoonist, and graphic designer. He is a regular contributor for the Patriot Journal.