Former First Lady Jill Biden expressed doubt on August 7, 2026, that she will see a female president in her lifetime, despite her confidence that former Vice President Kamala Harris will be the first woman to hold the office.

During a conversation on Kelly Ripa's "Let's Talk Off Camera" podcast, Ripa asked Biden if she believed a woman would be president in their lifetimes. Biden responded, "So, you know, I feel like probably not in my lifetime, Kelly, but maybe in yours."

Biden said she was confident Harris would be the first woman president and recalled the energy she witnessed at the convention, thinking, "finally, we're going to have a woman president."

Her remarks have drawn criticism from some Democrats, with one commentator calling Biden's comments "a slap to the bench of female Democrats that have 2028 aspirations, like AOC and Gretchen Whitmer."

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has also expressed skepticism about the U.S. being ready for a female president. In contrast, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back on Obama's remarks but acknowledged that change is still needed in the country.

Biden appeared as a guest on "The View" on June 2, 2026 (ABC via Getty Images).

Sources