Jill Biden's Vogue Cover Sparks Controversy Amid Concerns over Joe Biden's Mental Fitness

Vogue's August issue cover featuring First Lady Jill Biden has ignited intense reaction following President Biden's disastrous debate performance. The article, which was largely written pre-debate, has been updated to include comments from Dr. Biden on her husband's future. While the article paints a favorable portrait of the First Family, it has also raised questions about the Biden campaign's decision to remain in the race despite concerns about the president's mental state.

The timing of Vogue including First Lady Jill Biden on the cover of its August issue has sparked intense reaction on both the right and the left following her husband's disastrous debate performance last week. The highly favorable piece from the liberal magazine with the cover line, "We will decide our future," was already completed pre-debate, but was updated Sunday when Vogue spoke to the First Lady about President Biden's future in the White House.

Biden told the magazine that her husband "will always do what's best for the country" and that her family will not allow the president's brutal debate performance to define his presidency and will "continue to fight."

Jill Biden's Vogue Cover Sparks Controversy Amid Concerns over Joe Biden's Mental Fitness

Since Biden's showing against former President Trump last week, calls from liberal media allies have abounded for the president to drop out of the race over concerns about his mental fitness and cognitive ability. There have also been reports of concerned donors and Democratic Party "panic" over his performance, but the campaign has thus far held firm that Biden isn't going anywhere.

The Vogue story focused on interviews and photos done before the debate, which lauded the First Family, framing the race between Biden and Trump as one between democracy and tyranny. Anna Wintour, Vogue's longtime Editor-in-Chief, has held multiple fundraisers for the president.

Jill Biden's Vogue Cover Sparks Controversy Amid Concerns over Joe Biden's Mental Fitness

When Vogue went live on Monday with its August magazine cover, the comments on the fashion magazine's post were largely critical of what they believed to be an overtly political editorial move.

Many users commented about how Former First Lady Melania Trump, who was shunned by the magazine, never graced the magazine's cover as is tradition for first ladies. Notably, Biden's August cover story is her third appearance in Vogue during Joe Biden's four-year term in office.

Jill Biden's Vogue Cover Sparks Controversy Amid Concerns over Joe Biden's Mental Fitness

Janice Min, the editor-in-chief of Ankler Media, who was previously editor of The Hollywood Reporter and Us Weekly, told the New York Times that it is "not a great look when the president refuses to give news outlets one-on-one interviews but his wife has her third Vogue cover during an election where voters are saying over and over again it is all about the economy."

An article in The Washington Post, in contrast, described the image as "saintly" which "burnishes the image of the first lady as dedicated, but not arrogant."

Jill Biden's Vogue Cover Sparks Controversy Amid Concerns over Joe Biden's Mental Fitness

While Vogue describes Jill as "down-to-earth Dr. B" fighting to meet the needs of American's "core values," the first lady's cover outfit, a white Ralph Lauren tuxedo dress and Irene Neuwirth earrings retail for around $10,000.

The New York Post editorial board went so far as to say that Jill Biden's Vogue appearance proves she is "clinging to the reins of power."

The Washington Examiner wrote "First lady Jill Biden’s appearance on the cover of Monday’s Vogue magazine would be darkly humorous if it weren’t so disturbing and condescending."

These contrasting reactions highlight the deep political divide in the United States and the scrutiny that is being placed on Joe Biden's mental fitness ahead of the 2024 presidential election.