As Jill and Hunter Biden serve as the de facto gatekeepers, restricting longtime friends’ access to President Biden, the White House enters uncharted territory.
Not since Woodrow Wilson’s 1919 stroke, which left him incapacitated and his wife and physician in control of his decision-making, has there potentially been a similar situation.
Outside the insular White House, calls for the president to step down have only increased and are set to reach a boiling point this week.
Detailed Directions: An Ominous Sign
Tension among Democrats has led to new revelations underscoring concerns about the president’s ability to serve.
Instructions shared with Axios show President Biden’s staff prepares explicit instructions with large print and photos outlining his exact route to the podium for his events. (RELATED: Philadelphia Radio Host Reveals Biden Aides Provided Pre-Approved Questions)
The latest disclosure has only intensified discussions about the president’s competence and the transparency of the White House:
Why it matters: Since the June 27 debate, some Democrats who’ve attended and helped set up Biden events have wondered whether his team’s focus on minute details were to obscure the 81-year-old president’s limitations — rather than just a reflection of a meticulous staff.
A White House official downplayed the revelation, stating that: “If individuals are not accustomed to seeing advance teams work, that would be a common reaction, whoever the principal is.”
“I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements,” one staffer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said rebuking their superior.
“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 continued.
Pressure Cooker: Calls for Intervention Increase
Biden has said only “God almighty” could force him to resign. Still, a growing number of prominent Democrats, including ranking members on powerful committees who lobbied House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries over the weekend, want everyone up to the Obamas to convince Biden to quit by Friday.
“The s**t is going to hit the fan on Monday when Congress returns,” one lawmaker told Axios.
“Every single person not named Biden,” or not paid by his office or campaign recognizes the severity of the situation, a top Democratic consultant fumed over the weekend.
Between the lines: The event template’s focus on the walk to a podium is notable, given recent attacks by Biden’s political opponents.
Republicans have tried to highlight videos in which Biden sometimes appears unsure of where to walk on and off stage as a way to suggest he isn’t mentally fit for office.
Since Biden’s debate against former President Donald Trump, the prevailing mood in the Democratic Party has gone from shock to sadness to anger. As David Axelrod put it on Saturday, anger fueled by the denial, delusion and defiance emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
