President Biden’s family has reportedly blamed staff for his shaky performance at the presidential debate, and the president appeared reclusive again at Camp David on Monday.
The president and first lady, Jill Biden, are not scheduled to return to the White House until Monday evening. On Sunday, Biden’s wife, children and grandchildren urged the president at a rally at Camp David to stay and keep fighting in the race despite his performance in the debate. Some family members also criticized the way his staff had prepared him for the debate, The Associated Press reported, citing four people familiar with the discussions.
Politico also reported that Biden’s family has broadly criticized his staff, complaining that they did not adequately prepare the president to be more aggressive, did not focus more on laying out a vision for the next four years rather than fixating on defending his record, and allowed the president to overwork himself without adequate rest beforehand.
The family’s criticism was directed at Anita Dunn, a senior adviser who often has the president’s ear, her husband, Bob Bauer, the president’s lawyer who played Donald Trump in rehearsals at Camp David, and former chief of staff Ron Klain, who led the debate preparations and sessions this past election cycle, Politico reported, citing three people briefed on the family’s conversations but not directly involved.
Jill Biden supports husband after fierce debate, tells Vogue ‘we will keep fighting’
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive aboard Marine One at East Hampton Airport, Saturday, June 29, 2024, in East Hampton, New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
According to Politico, a source said, “The Biden family wanted the president to continue campaigning rather than end his career with a dismal debate performance against Trump, whom they all hate.”
Biden family members also questioned why Klain allowed the president to stuff statistics and why Biden appeared paler during the debate because he wore makeup after arriving at the Atlanta debate with a summer tan, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
In addition to the first lady, Hunter Biden was also among those urging his father to continue with the campaign, according to all three reports.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk off the stage after speaking at a campaign rally, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
His family knew how poorly he performed against Trump, but they also believe he is the best person to beat the presumptive Republican nominee. They also believe he is capable of serving another four years as president, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The president reportedly spoke with aides over the weekend to hear their thoughts on continuing the campaign. Citing a caller ID photo, Politico reported that Biden spoke by phone with trusted confidant Jon Meacham while aboard Air Force One on Saturday.
Biden’s granddaughters, Finnegan and Natalie Biden, attended several fundraisers in New York and New Jersey with their grandparents on Saturday.
Fetterman cited his “difficult” debates, argued Biden can still win and accused Democrats of “defecting” to Trump.
President Biden talks on the phone as he walks to board Air Force One, Saturday, June 29, 2024, at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Times reported that campaign advisers “were on the phone all weekend with big donors who were outraged by the situation, trying to stave off a wave of defections.”
The campaign has scheduled a conference call with the national finance committee on Monday at 5:30 p.m. and will hear from campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, The Times reported.
“Many officials say maintaining his donor base will be key to his continued presidential campaign,” the report said.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive aboard Marine One with granddaughters Natalie Biden, from left, and Finnegan Biden, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in East Hampton, New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz defended the reelection staff in a statement to Politico.
“The advisers who have mentored the president have been with him for years, sometimes decades, seeing him through victories and overcoming challenges, and the president has a great deal of confidence in them,” Munoz told Politico.
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Biden campaign for comment on Monday.
John Morgan, a major Democratic donor close to President Biden’s brother Frank, had publicly criticized advisers Dunn, Klain and Bauer for their performance in the debate.
“Biden has been fooled for too long by Anita Dunn and her husband’s values,” Morgan wrote on X. “They need to resign today. The fraud is terrible. It’s political malfeasance.”
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“It’s like putting a boxer in a sauna for 15 hours and then saying, ‘Let’s fight,'” Morgan told The Times in an interview. “I think the only people in the debate are Ron Crane, Bob Bauer and Anita Dunn.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
