First Lady Jill Biden visited northern Michigan Wednesday, making stops at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons to launch a new Democratic coordinated campaign office in Traverse City and meeting with staff and customers at King Orchards in Central Lake.

Biden arrived at Cherry Capital Airport at 1pm and was greeted on the tarmac by a group of community leaders that included Traverse City Mayor Amy Shamroe, Grand Traverse County Commission Chair Rob Hentschel, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Chair Sandra Witherspoon, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians Chair Regina Gasco, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribal Ogema Chief Larry Romanelli, and Traverse City author Chasten Buttigieg, spouse of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

A motorcade escorted Biden to her first stop at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, where Michigan Democrats are launching their 45th state office dedicated to mobilizing, training, and recruiting volunteers. Chasten Buttigieg gave opening remarks at the event, referencing concerns about President Joe Biden’s performance in a national debate last week and acknowledging there’s been “some hand-wringing” in the Democratic party since then. “You cannot be wringing your hands while you’re rolling up your sleeves,” Buttigieg told the crowd.

The First Lady also quickly addressed the president’s debate performance in her remarks. “Because there’s a lot of talk out there, let me repeat what my husband has said plainly and clearly,” she said. “Joe is the Democratic nominee, and he is going to beat Donald Trump just like he did in 2020.” She added: “Joe’s been knocked down and counted out his whole life, but when he gets knocked down, he gets back up. And when he gets counted out, he works harder. And that’s what he’s doing.”

Jill Biden also criticized Trump in her remarks, saying his “vision is for America is chaos, corruption, and telling lie after lie. We know who he was as our president, and it could be worse this time.” The First Lady also touched on the importance of addressing climate change, connecting it to Michigan – “preserving the Great Lakes is critical,” she said – and praised the Buttigieg family, who reside part-time in Traverse City. “Joe is so grateful to have Pete in his administration, and your advocacy is shaping a generation,” she told Chasten Buttigieg.

The First Lady next went to King Orchards in Central Lake, which President Biden also visited during a 2021 stop in northern Michigan. Jill Biden spent approximately 20 minutes meeting with staff and customers during the visit, leaving with a box full of fresh cherries. Her motorcade then returned to Cherry Capital Airport shortly after 4pm.