Biden staffers guide him through events with detailed notes, photos
4 Min Read
US President Joe Biden's team has to prepare for him a short document during events, detailing what he should do and how to maneuver.
-
US President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, July 7, 2024, after returning from a trip to Pennsylvania. (AP)
US President Joe Biden's staffers must prepare him a detailed document with large print and photos directing practically his every move, including his path to the podium, Axios reported Sunday.
The notion of having to prepare the President such documents has put into question Biden's abilities, with many Democrats wondering whether his staff pays just that much attention to detail or if they acknowledge his lackluster capabilities.
Biden's mental capacity has been increasingly in the limelight ever since his June 27 debate with presidential nominee Donald Trump, which saw him stuttering and stumbling often, and this does not make the situation any better for the 81-year-old seeking re-election.
One member of Biden's staff who has been working with him for well over a year now said a small fundraiser at a private residence was meticulously planned as if it were a NATO summit, especially when it came to his movement and itinerary.
A template of the documents handed to Biden before each event was obtained by Axios, who went on to reveal that it features large pictures of areas from the event, such as the path leading up to the podium and the podium itself, labeled with large text reading "View from podium" and "View from audience", as well as instructions such as "Walk to podium".
A staffer involved in a fundraiser event expressed surprise that a seasoned political figure like President Biden would require such detailed verbal and visual instructions for entering and exiting a room.
Former aides who worked with Biden during his vice presidency noted that his preparation documents then were different, often relying more on on-site diagrams. They acknowledged that organizing presidential events, known as "advance work," is always intensive and detail-focused.
Aides claim this to be procedure
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates emphasized that high levels of detail and precision are critical in presidential advance work, regardless of who is president. Vice President Kamala Harris' spokesperson, Kirsten Allen, echoed this sentiment, stating that such documents are standard logistical briefing materials for any principal, including the vice president.
Moreover, while the use of teleprompters is common for presidents, Biden's over-reliance on them, wherein he uses them even for small events like fundraisers, has raised concerns among Democrats that his debate performance might not have been an isolated incident.
This is not a one-off event, as Biden's White House team has even been found to be giving interviewers questions to ask the President, likely so that he could practice answering them in advance.
The White House assisted in drafting the host's questions for the president before forwarding them, a person familiar with the matter told Axios.
Read more: After lackluster debate, Biden's team drafted his interview questions
'I’m running the world', Biden says during ABC News interview
Following his lackluster performance in last week’s debate against Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden sought to address concerns about his age and cognitive abilities in an interview for ABC News on Friday.
In the highly anticipated sit-down with George Stephanopoulos, the 81-year-old leader attributed the debate fiasco entirely to himself, stating, "It’s my fault, no one else’s fault." He emphasized that it was simply a "bad episode" due to being "exhausted" and "sick" with a "bad cold", stressing it was not indicative of any serious condition.
Biden revealed, "I have medical doctors trailing me everywhere I go," and they informed him post-debate that he was "exhausted", but nothing more severe. He added, "I have an ongoing assessment of what I’m doing. They don’t hesitate to tell me if something is wrong."
When asked directly whether he was prepared to undergo a neurological test to reassure Americans about his capabilities, Biden sidestepped the question, asserting, "I have a cognitive test every single day."
"Every day I have that test," Biden reiterated when pressed again. "Not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world, and that’s not hyperbole."
According to reports from Axios, several House Democrats have indicated a significant shift in sentiment, with one member noting, "The dam is breaking."
