Dr. Jill Biden was surprised by recent attacks, says she’s proud of her doctorate

Future First Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined President-elect Joe Biden on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Thursday night where she responded to the recent attacks on her use of the title ‘Doctor.” The attacks on Dr. Biden, who has a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and a doctorate from the University of Delaware, began with a Wall Street Journal op-ed last Friday. Fox News host Tucker Carlson joined in on Monday when he compared Dr. Biden to Dr. Pepper, and on Wednesday when he ripped her dissertation and called her illiterate.

“That was such a surprise,” Dr. Biden told Colbert, adding, “And, you know, it was really the tone of it that I think that—you know, he called me kiddo. One of the things I’m most proud of is my doctorate. I mean, I worked so hard for it.”

Many people have come to the defense of Dr. Biden, like Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and former First Lady Michelle Obama, and for that, Dr. Biden is grateful.

“But look at all the people who came out in support of me,” Dr. Biden said. “I mean, I am so grateful and I was—ya know, I was just overwhelmed by how gracious people were toward me.”

While the attacks have been vicious and mean-spirited, Colbert gave Dr. Biden a different way of looking at them.

“Do you think it might be a little bit of a compliment that people are trying to think of something to criticize you about?” Colbert asked. “And they were like, ‘Oh, what do we got? I got it!’” “Okay,” Dr. Biden answered, laughing, “I’ll take it that way.”

Video Transcript

[INTRO THEME]

STEPHEN COLBERT: Some people have recently taken it upon themselves to question that title of yours. Do you have any reaction to those people?

JILL BIDEN: Yeah, that was such a surprise.

STEPHEN COLBERT: It caught me by surprise, as well. I did not see that one coming.

JILL BIDEN: No, nor did I.

- President-elect Joe Biden and future first lady Dr. Jill Biden appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Thursday night, where Dr. Biden responded to recent attacks on her use of the title "doctor," both in a recent "Wall Street Journal" op-ed, and from Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

JILL BIDEN: It was really the tone of it, that I think that, um, you know, he called me "kiddo." One of the things I'm most proud of is-- is my doctorate. I mean, I worked so hard for it.

- Vice President-elect Kamala Harris came to Dr. Biden's defense, as did former First Lady, Michelle Obama, among others. And Biden is grateful for their support.

JILL BIDEN: But look at all the people who came out in support of me. I-- I mean, I am so grateful, and I was, you know, I was just overwhelmed by how gracious people were.

- And Colbert gave Dr. Biden a different way of looking at the attacks.

STEPHEN COLBERT: Do you think it might be a little bit of a compliment that people were trying to think of something to criticize you about, and they were like, uh, what do we got? I-- I got it!

JILL BIDEN: OK, I'll take it that way.

[OUTRO THEME]