First Lady Pool Reports of May 10, 2024

FLOTUS pool report -- Los Angeles

First Lady Jill Biden delivered a twelve minute speech at approximately 3:15 p.m. for a ticketed, invite-only Biden Victory Fund event in Beverly Hills. During the speech, she recounted why she decided to say yes to President Joe Biden's 5th marriage proposal, emphasized the importance of his steady and experienced leadership and explained why former president Donald Trump cannot be allowed to win again.

The reception took place in the Beverly Hills residence of longtime Democratic donors and campaign supporters Kimberly Marteau Emerson and John Emerson. Emerson was the US Ambassador to Germany under President Barack Obama, while his wife Marteau Emerson was the spokesperson for the United States Information Agency under President Bill Clinton.

An audience of around 50 gathered to hear the First Lady speak in their sunlit library room, which boasted impressive views of the Santa Monica mountains surrounding the hillside property. Among those in attendance were Co-Chair of the Biden Reelection Campaign Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chair of the Biden Victory Fund Chris Korge and SoCal Finance Director for the Biden Victory Fund Hailey Sasse.

Emerson thanked those in attendance and announced that the event had raised over $450,000. Marteau Emerson then introduced Biden and discussed her trailblazing accomplishments in D.C., including being the first First Lady to maintain an independent career outside of the White House.

The First Lady teaches English and writing at Northern Virginia Community College and just finished submitting this semester's grades, Marteau Emerson said.

Biden began her speech by telling people about the ultimatum Joe Biden delivered the fifth time he proposed: She had until he returned from a 10 day trip to say yes or he could no longer bear to "just be friends" and the relationship would end.

She also recalled how when he returned for her answer, he said "Jill, I promise you, your life will never change." And while their lives have indeed changed greatly since that moment in 1977, her husband has always been a source of stability for her and the nation, she said.

"Through the highs and lows of our country and this world -- a pandemic, an assault on our capital, a war -- he is that same steady leader, the faithful warrior, battling for the soul of our nation," she said. "I wouldn't wish the tragic world events of these past few years on any American president, but I'm so grateful that Joe is our president during these uncertain, unpredictable and tumultuous times."

She said Biden wakes up every morning thinking about the American people, whereas former president Donald Trump "wakes up every morning caring about one person and one person only himself."

Biden also criticized Trump for calling Americans who died in war "losers" and "suckers," saying that as the daughter of a WWII Navy veteran and the mother of an army soldier she finds this deeply offensive.

"Donald Trump is dangerous to our families and to our country," she said. "We are the first generation in half a century to give our daughters a country with fewer rights than we had; We simply cannot let him win."

She recounted the moment the 2020 election results were certified and how it felt "like this huge weight had been lifted and we could finally breathe again." She asked audience members to remember how they felt after the 2020 election and then compare that to how they felt when Trump won in 2016.

"Remember how you woke up and said to yourself 'Oh my God, what just happened?' We cannot let that happen again," she said.

She ended her speech by urging everyone to fight as hard as they can to help her husband win the upcoming election, saying that our rights and our democracy are at stake.

"This election is going to take all of us," she said, "so I'm looking forward to working with all of you because we are going to win."