Biden Expresses Gratitude to Clintons, Declares Love for Hillary

President Biden publicly thanked Bill and Hillary Clinton on Monday evening, professing admiration for the former president and expressing his love for Hillary for her public support. The unexpected display of affection occurred during a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative’s summit in New York City.

Biden, who was initially not scheduled to speak, was “trapped” by his wife, Jill Biden, into giving remarks after being called to the stage to accept a Global Citizen award. He humorously acknowledged the situation, stating, “This is what you call being trapped.”

“Hillary, I want to thank you—and I maybe shouldn’t do this publicly—but thank you personally for the way you have helped me, the way you’ve spoken up for me with such passion. I can’t tell you—you can ask Jill. Anyway, I love you,” Biden said, with Hillary mouthing “thank you” in response.

Biden also praised Bill Clinton for his “decency” and “incredible intellect.” The Clintons were vocal supporters of Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign, even urging donors to resume contributions to his struggling campaign.

Hillary Clinton’s public support for Biden was particularly notable, coming after a contentious debate with former President Donald Trump in June 2020 and amidst questions about Biden’s mental acuity. The Clintons’ support for Biden was significant, as they were initially hesitant about his candidacy and had even privately expressed concerns about his fitness for office.

Jill Biden, who has taken on an increasingly prominent role in her husband’s administration, was present at the event and clapped lightly as Biden expressed his affection for Hillary. She had a busy schedule that day, including a speech at the Clintons’ summit and other engagements on gay and transgender rights and international development.