From the earliest days of President Joe Biden’s administration, White House aides allegedly worked to obscure signs of his apparent cognitive decline, an explosive report revealed Thursday. The report claims staff went to great lengths to shield the president from scrutiny, even adjusting his schedule to mitigate public missteps.
The 80-year-old president’s limited media access has long been noted, with Biden holding fewer large press conferences than his predecessors and frequently stumbling into verbal gaffes during public appearances. However, according to insiders speaking to The Wall Street Journal, the extent to which his team managed these situations was largely hidden until now.
After taking office amid the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021, Biden’s aides reportedly formed a protective circle, restricting his in-person engagements and making daily adjustments based on his energy levels. By the spring of 2021, meetings and appearances were rescheduled to align with his “good days and bad days,” according to a national security official cited in the report.
For example, it became common practice to hold important meetings later in the day, reflecting concerns raised during Biden’s 2020 campaign when staff noted his sharpness diminished outside a six-hour window that ended by late afternoon. In meetings, officials were encouraged to keep briefings concise, while private interactions with top cabinet members, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, reportedly became less frequent.
One former aide disclosed that a cabinet official stopped requesting meetings with the president after repeated cancellations. Additionally, the White House enlisted Hollywood executive Jeffrey Katzenberg to help improve Biden’s speaking tone and delivery.
According to the report, staff often curated the president’s daily briefing materials to exclude negative news, shielding him from criticisms, including public dissatisfaction with his administration, which hit historic lows in 2024.
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates refuted these claims, asserting that Biden maintains regular contact with his cabinet and is deeply engaged in policymaking. “President Biden speaks with members of his cabinet daily… staying close with them about implementation of key laws and strengthening our national security,” Bates said in a statement.
Signs of the president’s challenges, however, were reportedly visible throughout his term. Biden often relied on notecards, mispronounced names, and strayed off-script during speeches. His sit-down with Special Counsel Robert Hur over classified documents was reportedly grueling, with preparations requiring hours of daily rehearsal as staff noted fluctuations in his energy and memory.
The Journal reported that Biden pushed for the interview to distinguish himself from Donald Trump, his 2024 rival, but the process highlighted his difficulties. A transcript of the two-day interview revealed Biden forgot the year of his son Beau Biden’s death.
During Biden’s reelection campaign, the control exerted by his staff became apparent to donors, with poll results reportedly delivered to aides instead of the president. Concerns about his image were reportedly so pervasive that some staff worried First Lady Jill Biden’s popularity might inadvertently overshadow him.
The first lady also intervened during press conferences, reportedly to prevent the president from being caught off guard by reporters’ questions as events wore on.
Despite these accounts, Bates emphasized Biden’s legislative successes, calling him “the most accomplished modern commander-in-chief.” Bates also defended Biden’s work ethic, citing his collaborative approach and focus on policy impacting millions of Americans.
“Every presidency inevitably includes individuals in Washington who wish for more time with the president,” Bates stated. “That doesn’t negate the fact that President Biden engages extensively with others, as he consistently does.”