Joe Biden awkwardly corrects ‘The View’ hosts over wife Jill’s religion in first post-white house interview
In a moment that quickly went viral, former U.S. President Joe Biden awkwardly corrected the hosts of The View on Thursday after they mischaracterised his wife, Dr Jill Biden’s, religion during their first joint interview since leaving the White House.
The couple, appearing on the popular American talk show, fielded a wide range of questions about their time in office, the demise of Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign, and ongoing concerns regarding the 81-year-old’s cognitive health. But it was a casual reference from host Whoopi Goldberg that led to the unexpected correction.
While discussing Pope Francis’s recent funeral — which the Bidens attended together — Goldberg referred to both Joe and Jill as “devout Catholics.” Biden was quick to interrupt, saying, “By the way, Jill’s a Presbyterian,” in a moment that clearly caught the hosts off guard. The situation was quickly smoothed over when one of them noted diplomatically, “The pope is the pope for all people.”
Dr Jill Biden has previously spoken about the frequent assumption that she shares her husband’s Catholic faith. In a 2022 interview with Baptist News Global, she clarified, “People think I’m Catholic like Joe, but I grew up Presbyterian.” Despite her different denominational background — Presbyterianism being a branch of Reformed Christianity — she is often seen attending Catholic Mass alongside Joe, underscoring the couple’s shared respect for each other’s beliefs.
The religious correction wasn’t the only headline-worthy moment from the interview. Biden also addressed mounting criticism regarding his mental fitness, especially in light of recent media reports and books that questioned his capacity during the final months of his presidency.
“They are wrong,” Biden said bluntly when asked about the alleged “dramatic decline” in his cognitive abilities. Jill came to her husband’s defence, saying, “The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us. And they didn’t see how hard Joe worked every single day. If you look at things today, give me Joe Biden any time.”
Another pressing topic was the notion that Jill created a “cocoon” around her husband, shielding him from media scrutiny and limiting public appearances. Co-host Sara Haines directly posed the question: “Do you think you could’ve been too close to the situation to objectively gauge whether he could handle a full four more years?”
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Jill was quick to dismiss the claim. “I was with Joe day and night. I saw him more than any other person. I woke up with him, I went to bed at night with him, so I saw him all throughout the day,” she said. “And I did not create a cocoon around him… He wasn’t hiding somewhere, I didn’t have him sequestered in some place. I mean, that’s ridiculous!”
With perfect comedic timing, Joe quipped, “I wish she had,” prompting laughter from both the audience and hosts.
The conversation took a more emotional turn when Ana Navarro raised comparisons made by conservative media likening Jill to Shakespeare’s infamous Lady Macbeth. The analogy, often used to suggest an overreaching or manipulative spouse, was one Jill admitted left a mark.
“It was very hurtful, especially from some of our so-called friends,” she said, with a solemn expression.
Despite the criticisms and controversies, the Bidens appeared united and unflustered, offering a rare and candid glimpse into their personal and political life since stepping down. Their appearance served as both a defence of their legacy and a reaffirmation of their bond — religious differences and all.
