Staffers for President Biden use large print and photos to provide him with directions and a planned path of entry ahead of events, according to a report.
Documents obtained by Axios on Sunday reveal the various methods employed by the president’s team, including specific guidance on how to reach the podium at functions.
The report emerges amid ongoing questions regarding Mr. Biden’s fitness for office, following a challenging debate performance on June 27 against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee.
“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,” an anonymous staffer, who assisted at a Biden event in the past 18 months, told Axios.
The staffer elaborated, “I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements.”
According to Axios, the White House prepares a template for event staffers to follow as part of the president’s “advance work.” The template reportedly includes large photos of the event space with big text labels such as “View from podium” and “View from audience.” Additionally, it features separate photos labeled “Walk to the podium.”
However, a White House spokesperson downplayed the detailed instructions, stating to 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 supported the viewpoint, saying, “These documents are standard logistical briefing materials and photos for any principal, including the vice president.”
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