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Recent revelations from dozens of insiders have shed light on how President Joe Biden’s inner circle managed his responsibilities and protected him as concerns about his capabilities grew during his presidency, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation.
Since stepping away from the 2024 presidential race, Biden’s diminished public presence has been overshadowed by President-elect Trump’s media dominance. However, questions linger about the extent of his decline and how his team managed it. The WSJ’s extensive investigation, involving interviews with nearly 50 individuals close to the administration, reveals the intricate system developed to manage presidential duties and public appearances.
This video is circulating online claiming that Joe Biden is dead, but that's completely false. The video allegedly features Henry Appel, a former spy and current National Security Council advisor, making some shocking statements about Biden's health pic.twitter.com/7vmafBed5i
— Roman (@gentl_introvert) December 16, 2024
Two key aides, Annie Tomasini and Ashley Williams, maintained constant proximity to Biden during public events, providing fundamental guidance for his movements and timing. Sources revealed that the president’s daily schedule underwent careful adjustments, with meetings typically scheduled later in the day to accommodate his peak performance hours. Some meetings were reportedly canceled during periods when the president wasn’t at his best, though White House officials dispute this claim.
“He has good days and bad days, and today was a bad day so we’re going to address this tomorrow,” a former aide recalled one official saying to them, according to the WSJ.
The investigation uncovered a shift in traditional presidential responsibilities, with senior advisers assuming roles typically handled by the president. Cabinet members frequently found themselves working through Biden’s advisers rather than directly with him. While the White House’s Andrew Bates maintained that Biden regularly communicated with his cabinet, the administration’s structure relied heavily on a top-down approach for policy implementation.
“If I had an issue or I needed attention on something, I had multiple avenues to explore to raise the issue,” Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the outlet. “You don’t always have to raise the issue with the president.”
Decrepit fool Joe Biden can barely walk, but they will tell us he’s in “excellent health” after his physical at Walter Reed today. pic.twitter.com/atEnykdika
— Suburban Black Man 🇺🇸 (@niceblackdude) February 28, 2024
The report highlighted that Biden held only nine cabinet meetings during his four-year term, with most cabinet members interfacing primarily with advisers like Jake Sullivan and Lee Brainard. These advisers would then relay information between the president and cabinet officials. Even traditionally close relationships, such as those with the Treasury Secretary and Defense Secretary, became increasingly distant over time.
Campaign events underwent similar careful orchestration. Donors expressed surprise when informed that traditional open Q&A sessions would be replaced with pre-screened questions on notecards. While the White House defended this as standard practice for high-level events, some lawmakers noted the unusual extent of staff involvement in presidential operations.
Independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin observed the unprecedented role of presidential staff, telling the WSJ that aides would frequently intervene with promises of “I’ll take care of that,” marking a departure from previous administrations’ operational norms.
