That’s their story and they are sticking to it. It sounds so much less coarse than just admitting that they wanted to go to Africa on the taxpayers’ dime, doesn’t it? This is Jill’s first visit to Africa since she became the first lady but during her time as the vice-president’s wife, she visited Africa five times. Five times. Did she have some significant success there that we haven’t heard about?

When she and granddaughter Naomi, daughter of Hunter, left for the trip, she told reporters, “This whole trip will be exciting, and we have a lot to accomplish.” Do tell, Jill. What exactly would that be? Her former communications director said that she sees herself as a champion of her husband, not a foreign policy adviser.

“She sees her role on the international stage as a champion of her husband and the administration through soft diplomacy,” said LaRosa. “She wants to be there as a representative of him, but she doesn’t consider herself, and nor does she want to be, a foreign policy partner or adviser to him. He has plenty of those, and she doesn’t view foreign policy as part of her role.”

That’s an interesting spin, but we’ve seen how Jill asserts herself in this administration. Some of us think it borders on elder abuse, egging Sleepy Joe on to run for president and now for re-election at his age, and deteriorating health.

Jill and Naomi arrived in Namibia Wednesday. It is their first stop on a trip meant to show the administration’s commitment to Africa, according to the White House. They were greeted by the first lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos, along with dancers and drummers. The focus of the trip is on how African youth can contribute to Namibia’s democracy and health. The two first ladies visited the “Heroes’ Acre”, a war memorial, to lay a wreath. Then they traveled to the state house where Namibian President Hage Geingob welcomed them.

Dancers representing Namibia’s different ethnic groups, some wearing red, white, and blue, others dressed in bright pink, greeted her with singing and dancing. The country has not welcomed a high-level U.S. official since 1996. The first lady’s trip is part of a commitment by President Joe Biden to deepen U.S. engagement with the fast-growing region.

Welcome @FLOTUS, Dr Jill Biden, on your inaugural visit to the Land of the Brave 🇳🇦
 
Your presence is a testament to the strong bonds between our nations and I look forward to deepening our friendship and partnership.#FLOTUSinNamibia pic.twitter.com/y8VbqD1jWM

— First Lady, Namibia (@FirstLadyNam) February 22, 2023

The second stop during the five-day trip will be in Kenya. Jill will talk about food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. Kenya is dealing with major food supply issues and public health concerns because of droughts over the last 15 years. Women’s equality and gender-based violence are also on the agenda. A White House official said, “In both countries, she will also do women’s and youth empowerment-related engagements.”

The Washington Post describes her sixth trip to Africa as “remarkable” so that indicates how the press will treat this trip. When the previous first lady went to Africa, she was criticized and mocked by the press for her fashion choices and photos taken in scenic locations. The Biden administration hopes to show U.S. support for African nations as China’s influence over the continent grows.

The first lady’s trip also comes just months after the president welcomed to Washington leaders from 49 African countries and pledged that “the United States is all in on Africa’s future.” During that three-day summit in December, the president announced that he would be going to Africa this summer and that seven other top members of the administration, including Jill Biden and Vice President Harris, would be making trips this year to show their commitment to partnering with Africa. The first lady’s trip is the first by a senior White House principal to fulfill that promise.

“On a broad policy level, it’s been a long-standing issue that the West’s influence on the African continent has been eroding as China has been increasing their engagement there,” said Matt Carotenuto, a professor of African history at St. Lawrence University. “If you look at Kenya, they’ve gotten huge loans from China to fund infrastructure over the last 15 to 20 years. Kenya’s been a great strategic ally and supporter of the U.S., but this is an area where the administration does need to double down if they want to maintain that influence as money has flowed from other areas.”

Jill will be meeting with the first ladies of both countries. She is reported to have developed relationships with them at the U.S.-Africa Summit. On the agenda of the events she’ll participate in is HIV support. There will also be discussions on reproductive health which is important since President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was begun by George W. Bush’s administration, is up for reauthorization this summer. Will she lecture African women on abortion rights? Isn’t that what is usually meant in the United States when “reproductive health” is brought up?

It will be Jill’s third visit to Kenya.

“She was really motivated to use her return her third visit to Kenya as a way to draw attention to what is a dire and immediate food crisis that cannot wait for further intervention and mobilization from the international community,” said a senior White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about internal planning processes. “So we really did intend to leverage her trip as a way to signal the administration’s continued leadership and partnership with the region in addressing that crisis, but to also really help generate additional support before it’s too late for those who are most impacted.”

First ladies can draw attention to issues but they don’t make policy. No one elected them. Jill seems to be mentoring Naomi in the family business. She was recently married at the White House and it was reported at the time that she and her fiance were living in the White House. Her father, Hunter, has also been staying with Joe and Jill when he’s in town. Naomi, 29, is an attorney. Maybe she has political ambitions.