Jill Biden, the former first lady, expressed her skepticism on Wednesday about witnessing a female president during her lifetime, mentioning her strong belief that Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, was destined for the role.
In a discussion on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” Ripa queried Jill Biden on whether she imagined a female president emerging in their lifetimes.
“Considering my age, being 75, I doubt it would happen while I’m still around, Kelly. However, it might be possible in your lifetime,” she answered.
Biden conveyed her trust in Harris’s potential to become the first woman president.
“Back then, I truly believed Kamala would secure the presidency. Campaigning alongside her, I witnessed the fervor and enthusiasm,” Biden remarked. “The crowds were there, the energy was palpable at the convention, and I thought, ‘At last, we’re on the brink of having a woman president.’”
Patrice Onwuka, the vice president of economic policy at Independent Women, told Fox News Digital in a statement that the ex-first lady’s comments were a slap in the face.
“Jill Biden’s comments about never expecting to see a female president is a slap to the bench of female Democrats that have 2028 aspirations, like AOC and Gretchen Whitmer. The supposed party of women can’t even convince the former first lady of its prospects to elect a woman at the top of the ticket,” Onwuka said.
Onwuka told Fox News Digital Harris’ loss was about her being a status quo candidate.
“Kamala Harris blew a billion-dollar campaign chest and a coronation on the top of the presidential ticket to only lose. Perhaps it’s time to stop fixating on gender and take policy seriously. Democrats failed to make Americans’ lives better in 2024. They didn’t care about a first female president if she was just going to continue the status quo. This fate lays wait for any female candidate who cannot deliver economic mobility for regular Americans,” she added.
Ripa said during the conversation she was “less hopeful” than the former first lady.
“I’m hoping that at a certain point, that that turns around. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I don’t think social media helps,” Ripa added. “I will always keep moving forward. I just, you know, I just feel like there has to be something internally. There’s got to be a messenger eventually that breaks through (to) the people.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama has also said she didn’t believe the US was ready for a female president.
In November, Obama told a crowd America “ain’t ready” to elect a woman, pointing to Harris’ loss to President Donald Trump in 2024.
Harris pushed back on the notion in December 2025.
“I do believe the country is ready,” Harris told The New York Times at the time.
“Thousands of people are coming to hear my voice. Thousands and thousands,” Harris said in the interview, referring to her book tour. “Every place we’ve gone has been sold out.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also pushed back on Obama’s remarks but said the US still needed to change.
When asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper whether she agreed with the former first lady’s comments, Pelosi asked why a woman commander-in-chief would be out of the question.
“Well, I hope — I mean, I respect her and I know that view is one that we all are saddened by, but we — I think we have to change. The fact is that I‘ve heard every excuse in the book, you know, like, ‘I‘m not sure a woman could be commander-in-chief.’ Well, why not?” she asked.
“‘Well, I served in the military.’ Well, OK. And so? So do women serve in the military.”