First Lady Jill Biden faced a wave of criticism on social media after participating in the first Cabinet meeting held by the Biden-Harris administration in nearly a full year. The meeting, which took place Friday afternoon, marked her first appearance at such a high-level governmental discussion, sparking heated debates about her role and authority in the administration.
President Joe Biden introduced his wife to the room, explaining that her presence was tied to a specific White House initiative. “First Ladies, across different administrations, have attended these meetings for specific reasons,” the President stated. “This is the first time Jill has joined us, and it highlights just how important the issue she’s about to discuss is.”
With a friendly gesture, President Biden passed the floor to the First Lady, saying, “It’s all yours, kid.” The casual tone of the exchange did little to quell the criticism that followed.
Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express her dismay, writing, “I’m unsure which part is more disturbing: that the White House held its first Cabinet meeting in a year, or that Jill Biden is playing a leading role in it.” Tantaros further emphasized that the First Lady, lacking any official governmental position or security clearance, should not be involved in such high-level decision-making.
Echoing similar concerns, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy posted on X, “The same number of people have voted for Jill Biden to be President as have voted for Kamala Harris: zero. Their new rule seems to be: the fewer votes you’ve earned, the more power you’re allowed to wield.”
Political commentator Mary Katharine Ham added a scathing remark, writing, “Oh neat, an unelected person married to the mostly incapacitated elected president is overseeing the first Cabinet meeting in forever. Does anyone have questions about this?”
Criticism also came from media analyst Joe Concha, who specifically targeted how mainstream media outlets, such as MSNBC, covered the event. “Of course, this is how MSNBC frames the First Lady’s role in running a Cabinet meeting,” he posted. “If this were Melania Trump, the media would be having an absolute meltdown.”
Columnist Marc Thiessen took the comparison a step further, likening Jill Biden to Edith Wilson, the wife of former President Woodrow Wilson, who is often said to have taken on unofficial presidential duties after her husband’s incapacitation. “She’s officially Edith Wilson,” Thiessen wrote. “She’s not elected, doesn’t hold an official position, and isn’t even a government employee. What on earth is she doing running a Cabinet meeting?”
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) posed a pointed question on social media: “Who is running the country?”
While some supporters of the Biden administration defended Jill Biden’s involvement, suggesting her participation was more symbolic than authoritative, the incident has ignited a broader conversation about the role of First Ladies in government affairs. Critics argue that her involvement in the Cabinet meeting signals a concerning blurring of lines between elected officials and their family members. Meanwhile, supporters argue that the initiative Jill Biden was discussing—a key priority of the administration—warranted her presence and expertise.
As this debate continues, the role of the First Lady, both in historical and contemporary contexts, is coming under renewed scrutiny. The administration has yet to respond directly to the backlash, but the incident has undoubtedly added fuel to ongoing conversations about transparency, power, and accountability in the executive branch.