At a politically charged campaign event in Wilmington, Monday, First Lady Jill Biden declared, “It’s great to be back in North Carolina!” as she launched a busy day of Biden-Harris campaign events across the country. 

Her stop included launching the Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris program. 

“Joe went from being a military father to being commander-in-chief, it’s a responsibility he stepped into with pride,” she said of her husband. “Joe reminds everyone any chance he gets that the US military is the finest fighting military force in the history of the world.” 

The First Lady, whose father was a Navy signalman during World War II, rattled off several of the President’s accomplishments, including an executive order allowing military spouses to build careers, lowering the cost of childcare and mental health services, and signing the PACT Act, which expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. 

Biden wasted no time before claiming that her husband’s opponent Former President Donald Trump doesn’t respect the military.

“He disparages those who sacrifice for this country. He didn’t want to be seen with injured veterans because it didn’t look good for him. It’s disgraceful.” said the First Lady. “He dismissed the military community and diminished America’s leadership around the world, and it could be worse this time.” 

Jill Biden referenced the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan as an accomplishment, despite it leading to the death of 13 U.S. service members at the Kabul airport. President Biden stated at the time, “I do not regret my decision to end America’s warfighting in Afghanistan,” while Former President Trump called it “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country’s life.” 

Continuing in line with the President, Jill told supporters that the country cannot endure another Trump presidency. 

“Our democracy cannot withstand a Trump presidency with virtually no limits, members of our military honor their oath to support and defend the Constitution,” She said. “We cannot trust Donald Trump to do the same, the military community deserves better. You deserve a commander-in-chief who serves with integrity and wisdom and character and that’s my husband, Joe Biden.” 

Notably, Gov. Roy Cooper was not in attendance as the First Lady campaigned in the Tar Heel State.

“The Governor always wants to welcome the First Lady when she is in North Carolina but unfortunately he wasn’t able to make it to today’s event,” wrote a spokesperson for Cooper in a statement. “He is grateful for Dr. Biden’s longtime focus on supporting veterans and military families and looks forward to support the campaign’s organizing efforts across the state to ensure we stop Donald Trump from getting back to the White House.”

Dealing with pressure from a growing crowd of Democrats who are calling Joe Biden to bow out of the race following his disastrous debate performance a few weeks ago, the First Lady told the Wilmington crowd Joe Biden is still in the race.

“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she said. “That’s the decision he’s made and as he has always supported my career, I am all in too.”