All Hell Breaks Loose At White House - Biden Staff Goes Public
In the wake of President Joe Biden's poor debate performance, certain administration members are venting their frustration through anonymous media channels. They compare the chaotic work environment to the comedy film "Weekend at Bernie’s," where a family pretends their deceased uncle is alive during a weekend getaway.
Axios has obtained exclusive insights from staffers who candidly assessed their boss's chances in the upcoming November election and pinpointed the errors made by his key advisors. "Everyone is miserable, and senior advisers are a total black hole," a White House official told the outlet.
"Even if you’re trying to focus on work, nothing is going to break through or get any acknowledgment" from bosses. A high-ranking official at the Democratic National Committee added, "The only thing that can really allay concerns is for the president to demonstrate that he’s capable of running this campaign."
"Everything else feels like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ by his inner circle to prop him up,” the source added.
The criticism centers on the idea that key advisors, such as Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, the first lady’s top adviser Anthony Bernal, and longtime aide Ashley Williams, have created an insular environment around the president, preventing him from being exposed to a broader range of opinions.
Some individuals who spoke with Axios reported witnessing or hearing the trio stepping in when the president experienced cognitive lapses, by reminding him about individuals he has known for a long time.
One former Biden aide told Axios: “Annie, Ashley and Anthony create a protective bubble around POTUS. He’s staffed so closely that he’s lost all independence. POTUS relies on staff to nudge him with reminders of who he’s meeting, including former staffers and advisers who Biden should easily remember without a reminder from Annie.”
White House spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the concerns as “anonymous sniping,” asserting that it is normal for presidents to rely on a select group of trusted advisors. “These are standard processes for any White House, regardless of president or party. The claims about these individuals — whose professionalism and character are respected across the administration — are inaccurate.”
“This is a team with experience keeping the faith as we helped earn the strongest record in modern history, and our focus is not on anonymous sniping,” Bates added.
Despite the growing number of sitting members of Congress and influential Democrats urging Biden to withdraw from his campaign, the president’s team has rallied supporters who emphasize that he has a strong track record to campaign on, and that a single debate performance should not be considered a decisive factor. “90 minutes doesn’t define a presidency. President Biden has given us 3½ years of extraordinary accomplishments and he made clear to every Democratic staffer who’s working to get him re-elected that he’s all in for four more,” DNC Executive Director Sam Cornale said in a statement to the outlet.
Campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz added that “there’s an immense sense of pride across our office.”