Joe Biden broke down in tears as Jill hailed her ‘husband and hero’ during the president’s final farewell dinner at the White House, but there were no signs of Kamala Harris.
The outgoing US President was overcome with emotion as the First Lady paid tribute to his decades of service during a party on the South Lawn thanking Democrat supporters and donors.
On Friday evening, Jill praised her husband’s 40 years of service, including his last four years as the President of the United States.
‘What I’ve watched you do for more than 40 years is extraordinary… Joe what you’ve done the last four years is breathtaking,’ the First Lady said, as Biden wiped a tear from his cheek.
After Biden reached for a tissue from his pocket, his wife raised a glass, toasting to: ‘My husband and hero, Joe Biden,’ before the pair shared a kiss on the podium.
The president then took to center stage for his speech, cracking a joke while urging guests and supporters: ‘If you have a seat, please take it. Don’t jump in the pool!’
‘Jill and I are hosting this dinner tonight for a very simple reason to say thank you. Thank you to so many dear friends,’ he continued.
‘We began this journey to redeem the soul of the nation and define the light in the darkness. And I never could have gotten to where the White House has become without you and we never could have gotten as much done as we did without you. And that’s not hyperbole. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.’
The president hosted the farewell in an effort to show gratitude to Democrat insiders before he leaves office on January 20, 2025, where he will hand over the presidency to Republican President-elect Donald Trump.