Jill Biden promises her husband will provide 'leadership worthy of this nation'

Speaking from the school in Delaware where she once taught English, Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, made the case for her husband and why she believes he is the right person to lead the country as it deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

Her remarks closed out the second night of the Democratic National Convention, and came after Joe Biden officially received the Democratic Party's nomination. Jill Biden said she knows how difficult this time is for Americans, especially those whose children can't go to school or who have to wait in line at food banks. "The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders," she said. Her husband, Biden declared, will be able to provide "leadership worthy of this nation" and "bring us together and make us whole, carry us forward in our time of need, keep the promise of America for all of us."

She also commended him for his strength during difficult times, like when their son, Beau Biden, died of cancer in 2015. Biden said she "wondered if I would ever smile or feel joy again. It was summer, but there was no warmth left for me." Four days after Beau's funeral, Biden said she "watched Joe shave and put on his suit. I saw him steel himself in the mirror, take a breath, put his shoulders back, and walk out into a world empty of our son. He went back to work. That's just who he is."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up