New insights suggest that First Lady Jill Biden’s influence grew significantly in the later period of her husband’s presidency, amid claims that she held substantial sway behind the scenes as former President Joe Biden faced increasing questions about his cognitive state.
The book “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” published on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, by journalists Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, Tyler Pager of The New York Times, and Isaac Arnsdorf of The Washington Post, explores Jill Biden’s impactful role during her husband’s tenure as his political career neared its end.
The New York Post reports that the book claims Jill Biden’s ascent to political prominence coincided with her husband’s perceived cognitive decline, particularly after his significant debate performance setback in June 2024. The authors note that the First Lady reassured donors after the President’s debate, stating, “He’s the only person for the job.”
Central to Jill Biden’s growing influence was Anthony Bernal, her chief of staff and senior advisor who also served as an assistant to the President. The book describes Bernal’s loyalty to the First Lady and his utilization of this relationship to exert influence throughout the administration. It was often ambiguous whether Bernal’s expressed opinions were his own or reflected those of the First Lady, as he occasionally answered questions directed at her by donors or voters.
Bernal’s influence attracted congressional attention when he was subpoenaed to testify on July 16 after refusing to appear before a House committee investigating the alleged concealment of Biden’s mental decline.
The book highlights tensions within the administration, particularly between Bernal and veteran Democratic political strategist Anita Dunn. The authors indicate that Bernal accused Dunn of lacking loyalty due to her advocacy for more transparency regarding the Biden family, highlighting internal disagreements on handling sensitive matters.
An example of Jill Biden’s independent decision-making was her presence at Hunter Biden’s federal trial in June 2024. The book notes that the First Lady enforced what the authors described as a near-complete ban on discussing Hunter Biden, even as his federal trial coincided with his father’s re-election campaign.
Jill Biden attended the trial’s first three days, traveled to France for the D-Day commemoration with the President, and returned to Wilmington, Delaware, less than 24 hours later for the trial’s fifth day. Her attendance surprised West Wing staffers, with most senior aides unaware of her plans, illustrating her independence from White House staff.
The book’s revelations coincide with increased scrutiny over the administration’s management of the President’s age and cognitive faculties. Congressional investigations have been initiated to explore allegations of a cover-up regarding Biden’s mental condition, with nine former senior White House officials slated to testify soon.
Further details from the book reveal efforts by the administration to control information and shield the President from media attention. Co-author Tyler Pager recounts an instance where Biden’s team reacted to Pager directly contacting the President for an interview in March by changing Biden’s personal phone number. The incident led to Pager’s number being blocked and the President’s phone line being disconnected within two days.
During their brief conversation, Biden expressed a strongly negative opinion of his successor’s second term and saw no productive outcomes in the new administration’s actions. When questioned about regrets over not running in the 2024 race, Biden replied that he did not dwell on regrets before ending the call to board a train.
This book adds to a series of publications analyzing the 2024 election and Biden presidency. Other recent works include “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, and “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House” by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes.
The claims in “2024” contribute to ongoing discussions about the Biden administration’s internal operations and raise questions about the extent of influence exercised by unelected individuals in the presidency’s final months. The book’s documentation of Jill Biden’s growing role sheds light on the administration’s power dynamics as it navigated increasing political challenges.
