‘I’m Jill Biden’s Husband’: Biden Highlights Family, Drawing Stark Contrast With Trump

TOPLINE

Democrats drew a sharp contrast with President Trump on the second night of the Democratic National Convention, putting former Vice President Joe Biden’s family front and center and highlighting the warm relationship between their presidential candidate and his wife, Jill Biden.

KEY FACTS

Key Background

By putting Jill Biden front-and-center, the Democratic Convention presented a glaring contrast with First Lady Melania Trump’s unprecedented absence from official and campaign events. Trump is not known to speak often about his wife or children. In her tell-all book, President Trump’s niece Mary Trump introduced the nation to a Trump family largely devoid of sentiment and loving relationships, casting it as a “malignantly dysfunctional family” that engages in “casual dehumanization” at family functions.

Crucial Quote

“She wasn’t really a Washington person and I don’t think ever imagined herself being part of that,” Cathy Russell, Jill Biden’s chief of staff when she was Second Lady, said of her during the documentary. Biden said she realized she had to “step it up” when her husband became vice president and explained her frequent presence on the campaign trail, stating, “running for president is too tough to not be together.”

Surprising Fact

Jill Biden’s performance earned praise from even some of Trump’s closest allies. “Tonight, Jill Biden did a very good job representing herself and Joe in the causes they believe in,” tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who called the former second lady “an outstanding person who has led a consequential life.”