Managing a Diminished Leader
The Biden administration’s inner workings reveal a presidency carefully engineered to accommodate an aging and diminished leader, according to a blockbuster report from the Wall Street Journal From the start, aides implemented strategies to minimize President Biden’s exposure to extended meetings or unscripted moments, controlling every aspect of his schedule to prevent visible signs of fatigue or confusion. Meetings with senior officials like Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen became rare, with aides acting as intermediaries, often relaying decisions without Biden’s direct involvement.
Even interactions with Democratic lawmakers were tightly regulated. Representative Adam Smith, then chair of the House Armed Services Committee, recalled being unable to directly discuss the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal with Biden, despite raising alarms. The disastrous pullout ultimately cost the lives of 13 U.S. service members and Biden approvals never recovered.
The Debate That Unraveled the Illusion
The turning point came during Biden’s June 2024 debate with Donald Trump. Struggling to complete sentences and visibly disoriented, Biden’s performance shattered the administration’s narrative of his competence. The public exposure of his limitations, long hidden behind layers of control, forced his withdrawal from the presidential race just weeks later. This moment confirmed what insiders had known for years: Biden’s decline had rendered him increasingly incapable of fulfilling his duties.
Controlled Access and Scripted Appearances
Throughout Biden’s presidency, his team employed stringent measures to shield him from scrutiny. Public interactions were heavily scripted, and even donor events required pre-approved questions. At times, aides handed attendees cards with written questions to ensure Biden wouldn’t be caught off guard. Despite these precautions, flubs still occurred, revealing the limits of such micromanagement.
Behind closed doors, staff adjusted schedules to fit Biden’s energy levels, canceling or rescheduling meetings on his “bad days.” This insulation extended to his own campaign. Pollsters reported being cut off from direct communication with Biden, with data filtered through close advisers.
A Failure of Transparency
Perhaps most concerning is the role of the media in perpetuating the illusion of Biden’s competency. Negative stories were excluded from the president’s news briefings, while journalists failed to ask tough questions about his capacity to lead. The American public was denied the truth about the president’s limitations until it became undeniable on a national stage.
The revelations from the Biden White House expose a dangerous precedent: a presidency propped up by secrecy, gatekeeping, and media complicity. This is more than political mismanagement—it is a profound betrayal of democracy and public trust. The question remains: Who truly ran the country while Biden could not? We may never know.