In a startling revelation from Washington, sources close to the First Lady have indicated that Jill Biden was gripped by fear that her husband, President Joe Biden, had suffered a stroke during the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. The incident, which occurred on Thursday evening, has sent shockwaves through the political establishment and raised urgent questions about the president’s health.
According to insiders, Mrs Biden was seen in the wings of the debate hall, her face pale and hands trembling, as the president appeared to struggle with his words and lose his train of thought. She reportedly whispered to aides, “Is it a stroke? Call the doctor.” The president’s performance was widely criticised as halting and confused, with moments where he seemed to freeze mid-sentence.
Buckingham Palace officials, when approached for comment, offered a terse “no comment” – an unusual stance given the close ties between the White House and the Royal Family. Palace insiders suggest that protocol prevents any official response on the health of foreign leaders, but the silence has only fuelled speculation.
Medical experts caution that without access to the president’s records, it is impossible to confirm a stroke. “A transient ischaemic attack – a ‘mini-stroke’ – can cause temporary speech difficulties,” said Dr Eleanor Walsh, a neurologist at King’s College Hospital. “But so can fatigue, medication side effects, or simply a bad night. We should not jump to conclusions.”
Yet the political fallout is immediate. The president’s campaign had hoped the debate would reset a race that has seen him trailing in key swing states. Instead, his performance has reignited calls for him to step aside, with some Democratic donors already urging a replacement.
For the working families I speak to in the North, this is not just a Westminster drama. It is a question of leadership and stability. As one factory worker in Sheffield put it: “If he can’t hold it together for a debate, how can he hold it together when the chips are down?”
The White House has dismissed the stroke speculation as “baseless rumour”. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted the president is “fit and ready to serve”. But the First Lady’s fear, if true, tells a different story. And behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace, the silence is deafening.
