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By Shana Aborn/Aug. 23, 2021 11:28 am EST

Being in the White House in any capacity means having your every move scrutinized — and, often, criticized. Being first lady is no exception; presidents’ wives have come under fire all the way back to Martha Washington. The inaugural first lady hosted weekly receptions for the public when the family moved to New York, and some folks thought she was acting too much like royalty, per Mount Vernon. 

Other first ladies have been slammed for a wide variety of reasons. Edith Wilson vetted Woodrow Wilson’s visitors and personal papers while he was recovering from a stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt continued her civil rights work while her husband was in office (and — gasp! — drove her own car). Jackie Kennedy reportedly insulted Queen Elizabeth during a state visit. Hillary Clinton was named to the Health Care Task Force. Michelle Obama “arrogantly” dictated nutritious school lunch policies (via PBS, The Washington Post, Heritage, NBC). Melania Trump was taken to task over everything from her flippant “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” jacket to her overhaul of the Rose Garden and her austere White House Christmas decorations. 

Dr. Jill Biden surely knew she would be no exception when her husband took office in 2021. Sure enough, a viral op-ed in the Wall Street Journal blasted her even before the January inauguration ceremony. Why? For using her “Dr.” title, which the author felt was “fraudulent” since Biden is not an M.D. You might think this would be the most absurd criticism Biden would ever have to face. You might just be wrong.

Other first ladies have been slammed for a wide variety of reasons. Edith Wilson vetted Woodrow Wilson’s visitors and personal papers while he was recovering from a stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt continued her civil rights work while her husband was in office (and — gasp! — drove her own car). Jackie Kennedy reportedly insulted Queen Elizabeth during a state visit. Hillary Clinton was named to the Health Care Task Force. Michelle Obama “arrogantly” dictated nutritious school lunch policies (via PBS, The Washington Post, Heritage, NBC). Melania Trump was taken to task over everything from her flippant “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” jacket to her overhaul of the Rose Garden and her austere White House Christmas decorations. 

Dr. Jill Biden surely knew she would be no exception when her husband took office in 2021. Sure enough, a viral op-ed in the Wall Street Journal blasted her even before the January inauguration ceremony. Why? For using her “Dr.” title, which the author felt was “fraudulent” since Biden is not an M.D. You might think this would be the most absurd criticism Biden would ever have to face. You might just be wrong.

Rachel Campos-Duffy thinks Jill Biden ‘failed the country’

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