Smith said he was disturbed by the reaction that followed the debate, pointing to Jill Biden’s public praise of her husband Joe Biden at a campaign stop soon after the event. He argued that her comments added to a political narrative he sees among Democrats, saying they are dishonest, not forthcoming, and always trying to control the message.
Speaking with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his WABC radio show, Pulse of the People, Smith criticized what he described as an overly supportive response from Jill Biden. He recalled that after the debate, she congratulated Joe Biden and told him he had done a great job, answered every question, and knew all the facts. Smith said that moment bothered him deeply.
According to Smith, the issue was not only the debate itself but also the contrast between how Biden appeared and how his wife publicly described his performance. He said Jill Biden came out immediately after the debate and praised her husband in a way that, in his view, made the situation worse. Smith suggested the remarks encouraged a damaging perception about Democrats and how they handle public messaging.
He said the comments reinforced an image of Democratic leaders as unwilling to be open or direct. In his view, the response was part of a broader pattern in which Democrats try to shape or manipulate the narrative rather than address concerns honestly. Smith framed the episode as evidence that the party’s approach can come across as evasive and calculated.
The remarks came during a discussion focused on the political fallout from the debate and the reactions surrounding it. Smith’s comments added another critical voice to the broader conversation about Joe Biden’s performance and the public response from his family and allies. He emphasized that the praise from Jill Biden stood out to him as especially troubling and said it fueled the very criticisms he was making about Democratic messaging.
The exchange highlighted the sensitivity around Biden’s debate appearance and the scrutiny that followed from both supporters and critics. Smith’s reaction centered on the idea that public reassurance from a close family member, rather than calming concerns, may have intensified them by appearing disconnected from what viewers had just seen.
