President Biden's Daughter Ashley Files for Divorce from Husband Howard Krein After 13 Years of Marriage

The politician's youngest child seemed to subtly celebrate the end of her marriage with social media posts on the day she filed court documents.

Former U.S. president Joe Biden's daughter Ashley Biden filed for the dissolution of her marriage to Howard Krein at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, a representative confirmed.

Per court documents, the social worker filed for divorce on August 11, 2025, after being married to the medical professional for 13 years.

That same day, Ashley took to her Instagram Stories and posted a photo of herself walking through a park while giving a thumbs up. The image, which has since been deleted, had Beyoncé's song "Freedom" playing in the background.

The activist also reposted the quote, "New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won't look or sound like they did before." Similar to the initial post, Ashley had another song playing in the background, this time "Freedom Time" by Lauryn Hill.

In the wake of the news of the divorce filing, netizens weighed in, with some speculating while others expressed support for her.

One person claimed that she might have ended her union due to infidelity, "I suppose there were three in the marriage." Another stated that Ashley acted in her best interests by filing, "Sounds like she made the right decision for herself..."

Someone else commented that she and Howard rarely made public appearances as a couple, "Never saw them together." "Money train drying up," another individual speculated. One added, "Looks like the husband could not survive the Bidens' dynamics anymore [sic]."

However, others did not try to make sense of what caused the divorce. One Amo reader said, "She obviously had a reason." Another wished the now-estranged couple well, "Best wishes [sic] to both of them in the next chapter of their lives."

Someone empathized with them, "So sad, after 13 years of enduring each other. It end into a divorce instead of happy marriage [sic]." Meanwhile, another person believed that it was probably for the best, "Marriages do not always work out and it is best to divorce. Both parties will be much happier. It is sad."

Ashley and her soon-to-be ex-husband, who met through her older half-brother Beau Biden, got married in June 2012 in Greenville, Delaware. The fashion designer's parents, Joe and Jill Biden, who married in June 1977, reportedly helped prepare for the auspicious occasion.

Not only that, the then–Vice President had the honor of walking his last-born child down the aisle and even prepared to be emotional while giving her away. Ahead of the wedding, he said in an interview:

"I kept telling Ash, we've got to open up the church and practice walking up and down the aisle so I can handle it."

Joe recalled the only time he had seen Ashley in a veil, which was at her First Communion. "I think to myself, aw, God, my little girl! This can't have passed so quick," he added.

Ashley, who was 31 when she wed, is now 44. Meanwhile, her now-estranged spouse Howard was 40 and is now 59. While she established a solid career as a social worker, he works in the medical field.

Howard is an otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon who, at the time of their wedding, worked at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia.

The New Jersey native also earned a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Ashley's divorce filing ends a marriage that lasted over a decade and began with family involvement and public celebration. Her social media posts on the day of the filing suggested a shift toward personal renewal, while online responses revealed a mix of speculation, sympathy, and support.

Throughout their years together, Ashley focused on her work in social services, and Howard continued advancing in medicine. Now, both appear to be moving toward separate futures.