Journalist and podcaster Megyn Kelly attacked the first lady on Twitter, mocking her for using her “doctor” title.
It came after a game day announcer at the San Francisco 49ers game introduced Doctor Jill Biden while she was seated in a box overlooking the field.
But the former Fox News host believes Dr. Biden’s use of the title is incorrect and nothing more than an ego boost.
“Announcers for this Eagles-49ers game just spotted the First Lady in a box and of course they call her ‘Dr. Jill Biden.’ I wonder if she realizes what a wannabe woman looks like when she insists on that fake title. Get a real MD or just work on your self esteem,” Kelly tweeted.
Megyn Kelly expressed strong opinions about the use of academic titles during a 49ers game after a host called First Lady Jill Biden “Dr. Jill Biden’
Kelly tweeted, “I wonder if she realizes how it might come across to others. You should either have a proper MD or work on your self-esteem.’
dr Jill Biden is pictured in an Instagram post from Sunday’s game in San Francisco
The tweet received 4.3 million views within a few hours, but only a fraction of the likes at 30,000.
Some of those who responded to Kelly agreed that Biden’s statement was indeed self-aggrandizing.
“What do you mean, she’s not a doctor? Whoopi Goldberg thinks it is her. “I hope Dr. Jill becomes Surgeon General. … [Y]oh she’s a damn good doctor.” Goldberg, March 4, 2020,” wrote Mark Hayman on Twitter.
“Then my PhD is pretty cool. I never considered owning it longer than all those MDs. I always thought they were the real doctors, and I just posed when I mentioned I had one,” Seth Frantzman suggested.
“I’ve never heard of any other politician with a PhD or similar degree in the US being routinely referred to as ‘Dr’ … but if it happens I’d be interested,” he continued.
“As someone who has a PhD and is also a strong Conservative, I just can’t understand this fight. Whether it is a Physician, a Doctor of Philosophy, a Doctor of Theology, or whatever, the title was earned through intense academic study. Find another tirade,” argued Garrett McKinnon, Ph.D.
Some of those who responded to Kelly agreed that Biden’s was self-aggrandizement and that using the title “doctoral degree” was inappropriate
dr Biden holds two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware.
During President Biden’s eight-year tenure as Vice President, she was a full-time English professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
Before moving to Washington DC, she taught at a community college in Delaware, a public high school, and a juvenile mental health facility.
In her memoir, she wrote, “Being a teacher isn’t what I do, it’s who I am.”
In April 2019, she took a break from classes for the first time since 1981 to help her husband in the election campaign.
US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware on Sunday
dr Biden earned four degrees while raising her family. She holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees and received her doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in 2007. She is pictured with Joe and their children
‘Woman. Biden’ taught English at the high school level but has since earned his PhD and teaches college courses
The majority of those who replied to Kelly’s tweet seemed to take issue with her for the mean comment.
“PhDs came before MDs. You sound jealous and petty,” wrote one Twitter user.
“Are you aware that a PhD doesn’t mean you’re a doctor? Are you that ignorant or are you just treating your audience as if they are?’ asked Bryan Tyler Cohen.
‘DR. Jill Biden earned a PhD in educational leadership at 55 after decades of serving as an educator and focusing on community college empowerment long before it was a trendy political position. You correctly as Dr. Labeling Biden is the least we can do,” Charlotte Clymer stated.
“If the worst criticism one can level at the First Lady is the use of a title she has rightfully earned…” Joyce Alene added.
The majority of those who replied to Kelly’s tweet seemed to take issue with her for the mean comment
The debate over whether the First Lady should use her PhD first arose in 2020 when it was slammed in a Wall Street Journal article.
Columnist Joseph Epstein, 86, the first lady, 71, “kiddo” in the piece, telling her to “think about it and drop the document immediately.”
Epstein’s comment entitled “Is there a doctor in the White House? Not if You Need an MD’ criticized her for saying ‘Dr.’ as an honorary title, although she is not a doctor.
Addressing Jill as “kiddo,” he wrote that using the honorific felt “cheating” and “weird” since Joe Biden’s wife had no medical background.
Jill Biden later stated on record: “One of the things I’m most proud of is my PhD. I mean I worked so hard for it.’
In 2020, 83-year-old columnist Joseph Epstein called the 69-year-old first lady a “kiddo” in the article published Friday, telling her to “think about it and drop the document immediately.”
Biden’s critics say it’s unconventional to invite people to call a doctor when owning an Ed.D, as that’s typically reserved for doctors — although its use in academic settings might be more liberal.
Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson agreed with Epstein, saying Biden is “a PhD in education, which basically means nothing.”
“Jill Biden is not a doctor, no. Maybe in the same vein as Dr. Pepper,” added Carlson.
“In 2007, at the age of 55, she received her PhD in education, so she has the same degree as Dr. Bill Cosby.”
Carlson pointed out that in 2009, Jill Biden said she wanted a PhD because she was fed up with letters to “Senator and Mrs. Biden.”
He accused her of being “status scared” and said she had “determined to heal that, like so many in our country, with another pointless title”.
However, many have suggested that the dispute was only fought because Biden is a woman.
Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the country’s first-ever second husband, remarked, “This article would never have been written about a man.”
And Hillary Clinton, both former first lady and former secretary of state, simply tweeted, “Her name is Dr. Jill Biden. To get used to something.’