Staff provides Biden with instructions ‘on how to enter and exit a room’ with large print and pics ahead of events: report
Staffers for President Biden provide him instructions with large print and photos of venue interiors and his planned path of entry ahead of events the 81-year-old commander-in-chief attends, according to a report.
Documents obtained by Axios on Sunday show how staff help guide Biden — including his specific path to a podium — when he appears at functions. The report comes as the Democrat faces relentless questions about whether he is fit for the Oval Office after an awful debate performance last month against presumptive GOP 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,” a person who staffed a Biden event in the past 18 months 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 unidentified staffer also said.
The White House sends event staffers a template to follow when getting their own guidance ready for the president as part of what’s known as “advance work,” according to Axios.
One template reportedly shows a large photo of the event space on each page with big text like “View from podium” and “View from audience.” Two pages also gave separate photos with “Walk to the podium” accompanying the pictures.
But a White House spokesperson downplayed the instructions, telling Axios that “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 the assertion by the Biden official in a statement to the outlet.
“These documents are standard logistical briefing materials and photos for any principal, including the vice president,” the veep’s spokesperson said.
The revelation comes the same day that multiple senior House Democrats called on Biden to end his re-election bid during a private call with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), per multiple reports.
While a handful of House Democrats have voiced their concerns about moving forward with Biden at the top of the ticket, the octogenarian has remained steadfast that he has no plans to drop out of the race.
