The New York Times reported that there is “simmering resentment” among Biden administration officials toward the president’s close associates, who they believe are “protecting” him from the American people.
Michael LaRosa, who served as press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, has been vocal about his frustration with the Biden campaign’s continuing strategy.
“Everything looks and feels so staged, scripted and controlled, and he’s not given the opportunity to use his strengths – his humor, his empathy and his compassion,” LaRosa says. He told the Times.
“Empathy is his superpower, but he can only empathize with others when their humanity is revealed – with all its flaws, mistakes and imperfections,” he added.
White House urges Democrats to call Wall Street Journal over report on President Biden’s mental acuity
The New York Times reported that there was “frustration” among Biden administration officials over the president’s aides “hiding the president” from the public. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Those who have known him for years say he remains the same person at heart… But many, including members of his team, believe the restrictions on his public interactions are intended to protect him from age-related mistakes,” the Times wrote Wednesday.
“There is simmering discontent within the administration among those who believe the president’s aides are shielding him too much from the public eye.”
The Times called the age issue “Biden’s radioactive nuclear weapon that is dangerous if left unchecked but that no one wants to touch.”
“It’s flowing from the top,” the Times reported. “The defensive, cantankerous Mr. Biden is averse to any discussion of his age, and his aides are making an example of it. Far from acknowledging the obvious problems but highlighting the benefits of an experienced president, some advisers argue that Mr. Biden hasn’t slowed down at all.”
‘We should be worried’: Voters consider Biden’s mental prowess ahead of CNN presidential debate
President Biden’s mental acuity has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, with critics accusing the president of wandering around and getting bogged down at various events, something the White House denies. (Getty Images)
The Times wrote that Biden’s “unsteady gait, low voice and occasional confusion are hard to deny” and cited several recent gaffes that Republicans “have exaggerated and distorted,” and that former President Trump also makes mental gaffes. The paper also acknowledged that Biden “has held fewer press conferences and given fewer interviews than any president in decades.”
“Privately, Mr. Biden prepares before his public appearances with marathon meetings, stretching hour-long sessions into two and sometimes punctuating them with lengthy tales about deceased senators,” the Times wrote.
One of Biden’s key allies, Rep. James Clyburn, a district attorney, acknowledged to The New York Times that Biden has been “a little more reserved as president than he was as a senator,” but concluded that this is not due to age.
“I think Joe Biden made some kind of calculation a while ago and changed his style a little bit,” Clyburn said.
Jay Carney, Biden’s communications director during the Obama administration, noted a similar shift, telling The Times, “The biggest change is how careful and precise he is in sticking to the script and sticking to the points he wants to make.”
The New York Times slams Biden for dodging questions from journalists
The Times told readers that Biden’s “stumbling gait, low voice and occasional looks of confusion are hard to deny.” (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
The Biden administration did not respond to a request for comment.
