Former First Lady Jill Biden has spoken out. On March 11, 2026, she revealed a forthcoming memoir — her first public account of the four years she spent in the White House, including the moment her husband halted his 2024 reelection campaign. The book adds to the very public post-White House life she has shared since leaving Washington.
Her transparency was apparent early on. Soon after departing the White House, Biden shared a photo on Instagram of the family cat, Willow, tucked among moving boxes and captioned it “Best unpacking buddy,” signaling a move from formal White House settings to the more intimate surroundings of their Delaware home. This followed an earlier holiday post featuring Willow, where she had written, “A season of peace and light – and Willow.”
The Bidens are back in Delaware, where they own two properties: a 6,850-square-foot house in Greenville and a beach house in Rehoboth Beach. They bought the Greenville home in 1996, deepening their ties to the state.
The move followed President Biden’s decision not to run again, a choice that prompted a range of responses from supporters. Some Democrats suggested concerns about age influenced the 81-year-old’s decision to step back from presidential duties.
Willow has become a steady presence in their new life, especially after the absence of their former White House pets, Major and Commander. The cat’s visibility continues a long American tradition of presidential pets, a practice only omitted by three presidents — James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump.
Presidential pets date back to 1800, when animals first roamed the White House grounds under John Adams. Over time, presidents’ families have kept a wide array of animals. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s household included an eclectic collection — from a bear and a lizard to guinea pigs, a pig, a badger, and even a hyena — and their Scottish Terrier, Fala, gained celebrity status.
Some presidents accepted exotic gifts from foreign leaders, like elephants from the King of Siam and tiger cubs from the Sultan of Oman. More recently, the Clinton White House had Socks the cat, the Bush family kept Scottish Terriers Barney and Miss Beazley, and the Obamas had Portuguese Water Dogs Bo and Sunny.
The public has warmly received glimpses into the Bidens’ private moments. One Instagram user wrote, “Sweet Willow! enjoy retirement, we will miss you,” another said, “Really miss you and President Biden but know you have many more things in your life besides politics,” and a third commented, “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t have a pet especially in the white house! Please come back Bidens.”
The Bidens remain involved in post-White House efforts through the Biden Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware.
While Joe Biden has signaled interest in continuing policy work, he announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones; he has since received radiation therapy. On March 11, 2026, Jill Biden said he is “doing well,” but noted that “the fact that it is in his bones means that he will have cancer, you know, all his lifetime.” She added with her typical humor, “Like most retired couples, he’ll probably drive me crazy till the end of it.” Jill Biden’s future plans remain flexible, though her lifelong commitment to education suggests she may return to teaching.
Before leaving office, Joe Biden vowed, “I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind.” That promise is reflected in his post-presidency activities, including signing with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which also represents former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. CAA co-chairman Richard Lovett lauded Biden’s “lifelong commitment to public service” and said they are “profoundly honored to partner with him again.”
Jill Biden, who continued teaching at Northern Virginia Community College while serving as First Lady, has not announced whether she will resume classroom work. She does plan to keep advocating through programs like Joining Forces, the Biden Cancer Moonshot, and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. The couple has also produced children’s books, including Biden’s June 2024 release, Willow the White House Cat.
On March 11, 2026, Jill Biden announced a new memoir, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, due June 2, 2026, from Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster). The book recounts her four years as First Lady — from the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6 attack to the moment her husband ended his 2024 reelection bid. She revealed the news in an Instagram video, saying she wanted to ‘set the record straight,’ and told the Associated Press that writing the book was ‘cathartic.’ The title has extra significance: last year Trump removed the East Wing to construct a $300 million ballroom, making Biden effectively the last First Lady to have used it in its traditional role.
Plans for a Biden presidential library are still underway. No site has been chosen, though Delaware is the expected location.