According to a report, President Biden’s staff provide him with large-print instructions and photos of the interiors of venues he will visit, including his planned route, prior to events the 81-year-old attends.
Documents obtained by Axios on Sunday reveal how staff guide Biden, including his specific path to the podium, during events. This comes as the president faces ongoing scrutiny regarding his fitness for office following a poor debate performance against his likely Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“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,” someone who assisted at a Biden event in the past year and a half told the outlet.
“I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements,” the anonymous staffer added.
The White House provides event staffers with a template for preparing their own guidance for the president as part of the “advance work,” Axios reports.
One template allegedly features a large photo of the event space on each page with prominent text like “View from podium” and “View from audience.” Two pages include separate photos labeled “Walk to the podium.”
A White House spokesperson minimized the significance of these instructions, telling Axios, “High levels of detail and precision are critical to presidential advance work — regardless of who is president — and these are basic approaches that are used by any modern advance team, including the vice president’s office and agencies.”
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed this, stating, “These documents are standard logistical briefing materials and photos for any principal, including the vice president.”
This revelation coincides with multiple senior House Democrats urging Biden to withdraw from the race during a private call with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), according to various reports.
While some House Democrats have expressed concerns about Biden leading the ticket, the president has consistently asserted that he has no intention of exiting the race.
{Matzav.com}