The 81-year-old president reportedly needs detailed illustrated instructions to enter and exit rooms
According to Axios, President Joe Biden’s movements are meticulously planned by his aides, with photographs guiding him on how to reach the podium at events. Following a debate with Donald Trump that highlighted his perceived cognitive decline, Biden faces increasing pressure to abandon his reelection campaign.
Before each public appearance, Biden’s staff prepares a document outlining his entry, walk to the podium, and audience facing. These documents feature full-page photographs of the route, accompanied by simple, one-line instructions such as “Walk to the podium.”
“I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements,” an individual involved in staffing a Biden event this year told Axios.
“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,” the staffer added.
Biden is briefed on how to walk to the podium.
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The White House clarified to Axios that such instructions are common, provided for both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prior to events. “High levels of detail and precision are critical to presidential advance work – regardless of who is president,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.
Biden’s mental and physical health have become subject to intense scrutiny since his lackluster performance in the debate against former President Donald Trump last month. During the CNN-hosted showdown, Biden appeared confused, struggled to finish sentences, and his voice was weak, with his mouth hanging open.
While the White House attributed Biden’s poor performance to a cold and a busy travel schedule earlier in the month, significant Democratic Party donors have called for the president to suspend his campaign. Meanwhile, senior party lawmakers are reportedly preparing to sign letters advocating for his replacement with a less frail candidate.
As Biden continues to stumble in subsequent media appearances, including a radio interview where he claimed to be “a black woman,” multiple reporters have come forward alleging that the White House provided them with pre-approved questions for the president. Liberal pundits, once considered friendly to Biden, such as The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer, the New York Times’ Maureen Dowd, and MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, have all urged him to step down from the race. Alex Thompson of Axios claimed on Saturday that fellow reporters feel “duped” by the White House, who allegedly concealed evidence of Biden’s decline before the debate.
However, Biden exhibited similar gaffes and verbal slip-ups during his 2020 campaign. Countless videos have emerged since then showcasing the president mixing up countries and their leaders, shaking hands with the air, and appearing to fall asleep in public. Throughout this year’s campaign, Trump has repeatedly asserted that Biden “can’t string two sentences together,” mockingly imitating his opponent’s attempts to exit the stage after speeches.