Jill Biden drowned her sorrows in a glass of champagne and a night of partying with Serena Williams, Charlize Theron, Mick Jagger and Zendaya after her husband Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
The first lady, who is leading the U.S. delegation to the Olympic opening ceremony, joined A-list stars at the 2024 Olympics Prelude Party on Thursday night.
She was seen in a white pantsuit chatting with guests at the event. Biden appears on the cover of Vogue’s August issue.
Guests were surprised and delighted to meet the first lady, Vogue noted in its Writing and photographs of the event..
Jill Biden at the pre-Olympics party in Paris at the Louis Vuitton Foundation
At the opening ceremony, held on Friday at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams welcomed guests.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were also in attendance along with LeBron James, Novak Djokovic, Ian Thorpe, Tyrese Haliburton, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Soop Dogg, Tyla, Jeremy Allen White, Queen Latifah and Alan Cumming.
The party was organised by Vogue in collaboration with luxury goods company LVMH, the main sponsor of the games.
Instead of a red carpet, guests walked down a three-lane runway to the event.
The Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals designed by Louis Vuitton for the 2024 Games were on display.
Earlier on Thursday, the first lady met with American athletes to cheer them on before the games began.
However, his meeting with them had a melancholic element, as he alluded to Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race.
The athletes applauded her and gave her a warm welcome.
The first lady sat in the Oval Office Wednesday night as President Biden explained to the nation why he dropped out of the 2024 race. She then boarded a plane to Paris to represent the United States.
Zendaya and Spike Lee (left) and Charlize Theron (right) arrive at the party.
Snoop Dogg and Steven Spielberg (left) and Mick Jagger and Melanie Hamrick (right)
She referred to her husband’s words when she spoke on Thursday morning.
“When Team USA walks through the opening ceremony tomorrow night, they will carry more than just our flag. They will also carry the heart of our nation and our hopes,” he told athletes at a reception at the French ambassador’s residence.
“That’s what I love about our country: that we stand together and together we can achieve all possibilities. President Biden has led our country with that hope always in his heart. As he says:
And here the guests burst into applause. Jill Biden expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll take it home with me. And as he says: There’s nothing America can’t do when we do it together. And we see that especially now, at the Olympics.”
Later, Jill Biden literally passed the baton when she met with members of the U.S. track and field team at their practice track outside Paris.
The team recruited her to be the first leg of a stationary relay.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron at the Elysee Palace for the reception of the Heads of State
Jill Biden, left, learns proper baton passing technique from women’s relay head coach Mechelle Freeman, center
First Lady Jill Biden records digital video with Team USA track and field athlete Gabby Thomas
First Lady Jill Biden speaks with family members of the U.S. Olympic team at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Paris
On Friday morning, the First Lady was at the Élysée Palace for a welcome reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron.
The reception was expected to be attended by 85 heads of state, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The First Lady will later attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Following Friday’s opening ceremony, Biden will speak at a brunch to mark the opening of the Games and celebrate the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was among those accompanying Biden on the trip to Paris.
