First Lady Pool Reports of June 14, 2024

FLOTUS pool - Los Gatos fundraiser

First Lady Jill Biden began the second day of a three-day campaign swing delivering remarks at a fundraiser in Los Gatos hosted by philanthropist Shannon Hunt-Scott.

The First Lady's remarks centered around two stories — when Joe asked her to marry him the fifth and final time, and what it was like when they found out he had been elected president four years ago. She reflected on how during "the highest peaks and deepest valleys of our lives," and "through our painful losses and our triumphant victories, Joe has always been strong and steady."

She said while her husband wakes up thinking about improving Americans' lives, Donald Trump "wakes up every morning caring about one person and one person only: himself. He's dangerous to our families, to our institutions, and to our democracy."

She said people want to make the election "about any number of issues" but the only question that matters is: "Do we want the chaos, hate and division of Donald Trump, or the stability, integrity and character of Joe Biden?"

She closed by comparing the joy her family and many Americans felt when Biden was declared the winner four years ago to the shock of when Trump won the 2016 election, and said we can't let that happen again. "We have to meet this moment as if our rights are at stake. Because they are. As if our democracy is on the line. Because it is."

FULLER READOUT:

Pool was brought to a covered outdoor deck overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains on a perfect, clear afternoon. About 70-80 guests were seated facing the lectern which was set up with teleprompter. Standing tables and the bar had floral arrangements that included small pride and transgender equality flags.

At 12:40 pm PT, the First Lady and Hunt-Scott came outside to applause. Hunt-Scott opened with brief acknowledgments and remarks, saying "Everyone is welcome here, especially during pride."

"We need everyone in this moment, because what stands before us is so critical. It is so big. In November, we have to protect democracy, we have to protect free and fair elections, we have to protect a woman's right to choose, we have to protect transgender kids. And more importantly, we have to ensure that we have America that safeguards democracy, the rule of law and the rights of our citizens," Hunt-Scott said.

She said the crowd included 40 educators, and made note of Dr. Biden's work as Second Lady and teacher in the Obama administration. "Dr. Biden is, like, the real deal educator, folks."

She then introduced her as President Biden's "most trusted confidante," calling her "tireless" and fierce."

FLOTUS began remarks at 12:44 pm PT, thanking the host and her advocacy for teachers. She joked about the start of the summer when it takes a week to adjust to not having to prepare for class each day.

She then began by telling the story of how when she and POTUS were dating, he gave her one final deadline to answer his fifth marriage proposal as he left for a CODEL. She talked about all the considerations that went in to deciding whether to marry Biden.

"I was 25 years old. I was living alone. And I would have to give up my apartment, and my own space. Of course, I would no longer be single, but I would be a mom to two young boys, Beau and Hunter, overnight. And let's face it, I mean, Joe is not, you know, an ordinary husband." Marrying him would mean "a life in the spotlight," and she worried about giving up her career. But she also said her thoughts "were never far from the tragedy that Joe's family had suffered," in the 1972 accident.

"I knew that if I said yes to Joe's marriage proposal, it had to be forever. But it's hard to know what you owe a spouse who came along who died before you came along. A lot of people struggle with the fact that the love of their lives loved someone else first, and perhaps never stopped loving that person. Some people feel jealous. Some people feel inadequate. Some let questions of what would have been eat away at their piece of mind. But from the beginning, Joe made it clear that there was room enough in his heart for both of us. And I knew that if he could love Nelia as deeply as he did, then I could be loved that completely, too."

She then described accepting his proposal, and Biden then promising her: "I promise you, Jill, your life will never change. Which, of course, turned out to be wildly untrue. Life is change. And our lives had been full of more joy and heartbreak than we could have known that evening in my entryway 47 years ago. But even though everything around us has changed, the character of the man I married has remained the same."

"Through the highest peaks and deepest valleys of our lives, through our painful losses and our triumphant victories, Joe has always been strong and steady. Always unflappable. Always unflinching. You've seen it in these last few years," she said.

Turning to the election, she said her husband brings to the job "the hard-earned wisdom and steady character of the man I chose to marry so many years ago."

"In this moment, with these perils that the world is facing, there is nobody that I would rather have sitting in the Situation Room than my husband, Joe. He isn't just the right person for the job. He's the only person for the job. Joe wakes up every morning thinking about how he can make the lives of Americans better. Donald Trump wakes up every morning caring about one person and one person only: Himself. He's dangerous to our families, to our institutions, and to our democracy."

"There are a lot of people out there who would like to make this election about any number of issues. But there is only one question we have to ask ourselves. Do we want the chaos, hate and division of Donald Trump, or the stability integrity and character of Joe Biden."

FLOTUS then described the moment she and her husband found out he had won the 2020 election. She noted it was Saturday, days after Election Day, and their house had been full of extended family all week. "Joe and I were getting a bit stir crazy. And, I could not — I don't know about you — but I could not hear Steve Kornacki in those khaki pants or look at that board — remember that? This percentage, that percentage. It was driving me crazy. So I couldn't do it one more minute."

But as she and her husband were having coffee by the lake outside their home, they heard the family react to the election being called. The celebration in their home was not dissimilar to what happened in places across the country, she said.

"As we head into this next election I want you to remember that feeling on that day. And then I want you to think about that moment in 2016, the morning after the election when we woke up to find that we had fallen short. Remember how you said to yourself, 'Oh my God. What just happened.' Remember? We cannot let that happen again. We can't wake up on November 6 thinking if we'd only made more calls or knocked on more doors or donated more money. No. We have to work harder than we ever worked before. We have to push further than we pushed in the past. We have to meet this moment as if our rights are at stake. Because they are. As if our democracy is on the line. Because it is."

"With that determination, with that urgency, we will win this election. And we'll wake up on that Wednesday in November proud, knowing that we did everything to reelect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris."

She concluded remarks at 12:56 pm, and then worked the crowd shaking hands and having brief conversations. Pool returned to vans.