Report: “Holding hands” of Biden aides protects the president from criticism
The White House took extraordinary steps to keep the president Joe Biden A new report claims that the company is out of the public eye and away from many day-to-day duties.
the Wall Street Journal He shared that White House staff kept Biden isolated from the outside world while Cabinet members independently implemented Biden’s agenda. The outlet based its findings on nearly 50 recorded, informal conversations with employees and other insiders.
An unnamed source told the newspaper: “They idolize him to such a high degree,” criticizing the “grabbing” of the president by his senior aides.
As Biden’s term ended, Cabinet officials made fewer calls with Biden, the report alleges, and directed their agencies without the president’s oversight.
The report claims that Biden’s staff maintained a tight circle, to protect the president from second opinions.
Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee in the House of Representatives adam smith, The Washington state Democrat claims he had difficulty sharing his concerns with Biden ahead of the 2021 troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and only heard from the president after he criticized the hasty withdrawal in the press.
“The Biden White House was more isolated than most other places,” Smith said.
Other disgruntled Democratic members of Congress corroborated this account. Republic of Connecticut Jim Himes He said he had no “personal contact” with Biden during negotiations to reauthorize the controversial surveillance law.
An unnamed Cabinet official reportedly told the newspaper that they met one-on-one with Biden “at most twice in the first year” and rarely in small groups. Cabinet aides said the White House would step in to issue broad guidance but has largely stayed clear of details.
However, not all Cabinet members agree with the description of laissez-faire.
“I spoke to him whenever we needed his guidance or assistance,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said.
Rumors about Biden’s physical and cognitive decline came to a head this summer when a poor debate performance led to the president withdrawing from his re-election bid. However, his office maintains that the president was and remains qualified to lead.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden has “the most accomplished record of any commander in chief in the modern era and has rebuilt the middle class because of his attention to the details of policy that affect the lives of millions.”
Biden (82 years old) is the second oldest person ever to be elected to the presidency, surpassed only by a 78-year-old man. Donald Trump last month.
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