Irked first lady Jill Biden told reporters, “Don’t scream at me,” when asked Monday about the mounting number of House Democrats calling for 81-year-old hubby President Biden to give up his reelection bid.
“What is your message for House Democrats who are calling for your husband to drop out of the race?” a journalist asked as the first lady exited a coffee shop in Tampa, Fla. — with another reporter adding, “How are you feeling about the state of the race?”
The first lady broke her stride as she walked past the press, demanding to know, “Why are you screaming at me?
“You know me. Don’t scream at me,” she added. “Just let me talk.”
The first lady then did not answer the questions before climbing into an idling vehicle.
The White House had solicited reporters to join Jill Biden’s three-state campaign tour Monday, but the first lady is rarely asked hard-hitting questions.
President Biden — who is battling major concerns about his health and mental agility after a catastrophic debate performance last month — did not join his wife for the stops in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Jill Biden is known for being defensive of her husband, whose confused appearance at CNN’s June 27 debate against former President Donald Trump panicked Democrats.
At one point in 2019, Jill Biden reportedly fumed that Kamala Harris, who later became her husband’s running mate and vice president, should “go f–k” herself for attacking his historical opposition to interracial school busing.
Jill Biden reportedly has been strongly supportive of her husband’s plan to forge ahead with his Nov. 5 rematch against Trump, 78, despite ever-growing opposition.
The first lady’s top aide Anthony Bernal, who has faced allegations of bullying and sexual harassment from colleagues, has emerged as one of the president’s closest advisers after the debate catastrophe.
Nine House Democrats have said they want Biden to stand aside.
Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) Joseph Morelle (D-NY) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) reportedly said so on a Sunday conference call — with Smith confirming his stance publicly — while Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) have issued public statements.