A document that recently surfaced might provide insight into the intricate measures White House staff takes to instruct President Joe Biden during public events. This document, fashioned with large fonts and visual cues for easy readability, outlines a comprehensive plan for Biden’s movements, from entering the venue to stepping up to the podium.
The guide, which was acquired and published by Axios, includes step-by-step directives for the president, indicating where to position himself and which routes to follow during events. The thorough attention to detail has garnered attention from some political commentators, particularly considering Biden’s lengthy tenure in public office.
“I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private home, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements,” commented one of Biden’s event preparation staff members. This observation mirrors growing concerns about the president’s cognitive and physical ability to meet the requirements of his position.
Nevertheless, White House officials have minimized the importance of this guide, arguing that such meticulous instructions are a standard procedure for any modern presidential advance team. They contend that such a level of detail is crucial for ensuring flawless public appearances. White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, stated, “These are basic approaches that are used by any modern advance team, including the vice president’s office and agencies.”
Despite these assurances, the document’s leak has sparked debates about Biden’s mental agility, especially after several public mistakes. Biden’s performance in the recent presidential debate against Donald Trump was widely criticized due to his difficulty with words and apparent confusion.
The debate has intensified of late, with some Democratic lawmakers voicing concerns about Biden’s suitability as a presidential candidate for the next election. A senior White House official, choosing to remain anonymous, shared that Biden has demonstrated more signs of age, including speaking more slowly and appearing tired in private.
The leaked guide contains images with labels such as “Walk to the podium,” “View from the podium,” and “View from the audience,” suggesting a highly visual strategy for navigating public events. This level of detail surprised some former aides who worked with Biden during his vice presidency, as they remembered his preparation documents as being less detailed and more dependent on site diagrams.
A former aide shared, “It surprised me that a seasoned political pro like the president would need detailed verbal and visual instructions on how to enter and exit a room.”
Republicans have capitalized on the document as proof of Biden’s waning mental capabilities, employing clips of his public missteps as evidence that he is unfit for office. Still, Biden’s advisors insist that he is in peak physical and mental condition, capable of effectively serving another term until 2028.
Biden himself has addressed the speculation about his health and ability, writing in a letter to congressional Democrats, “Now that you have returned from the July 4 recess, I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”