Democrats angry over Jill Biden’s tell all: ‘If you like fiction it’s good’

After nearly two years of trying to move past the 2024 presidential election, the Democratic Party is being forced to revisit its most painful memories. Jill Biden’s new memoir, View from the East Wing, is hitting shelves this Tuesday, and the book is already sparking a wave of backlash from party insiders who view the release as poorly timed and revisionist.

Relitigating the Past

John Morgan, a prominent Florida attorney and key fundraiser for the 2024 campaign, pulled no punches regarding the memoir. Describing the book as a way to rip open a healing scab, Morgan went as far as to label the former first lady as a significant part of the problem. "If you like fiction it’s good," Morgan said of the account, adding that the notion she had not witnessed her husband's decline prior to the debate "defies the smell test."

Frustrations intensified following a recent promotion cycle for the book, including an upcoming Sunday CBS News interview. In it, Jill Biden reveals she was terrified during the 2024 presidential debate, admitting she worried her husband was experiencing a stroke. For many Democrats who were told their concerns were overblown by the campaign at the time, these comments serve as a stinging reminder of that period.

Internal Party Tension

With midterm elections on the horizon, some party figures are questioning whether leadership will ever address the perceived breach of trust regarding the handling of Joe Biden’s cognitive health. Dan Pfeiffer, host of the podcast Pod Save America, emphasized that while timelines are relevant, the larger issue remains the lack of accountability.

Meghan Hays, a former White House aide, noted on C-SPAN’s "Ceasefire" that these book-selling efforts are damaging for Democrats. "When we get pulled back into conversations about age and the election in ’24, it’s never gonna be a good place for Democrats," Hays said.

This tension follows the DNC's recent release of a 192-page report dissecting the 2024 loss. While that document critiqued a focus on "identity politics," it notably bypassed the specific details of President Biden’s reelection bid and the subsequent transition to Kamala Harris.

The Road Ahead

In her book, Jill Biden attempts to set the record straight, even suggesting her husband may have been inadvertently impaired by cough syrup during the campaign. Despite this, she maintains she saw no cognitive decline during his presidency, only a standard process of aging under an intense job. Former press secretary Michael LaRosa described the party's reaction as "pretty grim," noting that former aides feel she enabled the environment rather than challenging it.

Not everyone believes the memoir will impact the midterms. Strategist Steve Schale argued that while Washington circles are abuzz, the book won't move the needle in critical states. "She is selling books," Schale said.

President Trump, however, has taken an interest. In a Truth Social post, he mocked the former first lady’s account of the 2024 debate, jokingly lamenting that she failed to compliment his performance.