Some White House staffers have been forced to tiptoe around President Biden when briefing him on certain topics because they want to avoid eliciting his wrath and are “scared s–tless” of him, a new report says.
“It’s like, ‘You can’t include that, that will set him off,’ or ‘Put that in, he likes that,’”a senior administration official told Politico, referring to how some of the 81-year-old president’s aides feel they have to walk through a minefield before briefings to avoid him getting angry with them.
“It’s a Rorschach test, not a briefing,” the source said. “Because he is not a pleasant person to be around when he’s being briefed. It’s very difficult, and people are scared s—less of him.”
Biden “doesn’t take advice from anyone other than those few top aides, and it becomes a perfect storm because he just gets more and more isolated from their efforts to control it,” the source said.
The White House vehemently rejected the characterizations of the president, with Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates stressing to The Post on Tuesday, “That’s simply not who he is.”
In the past, allegations have emerged about Biden having a hair-trigger temper and reaming out aides — sometimes with profane language — when vexed by certain developments.
The president’s temper has flared publicly on occasion, too, including when faced with tough questions from The Post.
Other aides have reportedly sought to bring a colleague with them to meetings for moral support.
Biden has leaned on a very tight-knit inner circle that has tried to provide cover for him from the media and other groups.
His protective go-to people include senior adviser Anita Dunn, former chief of staff Ron Klain, Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Bruce Reed.
The Post learned that Biden’s son Hunter also has been participating in West Wing meetings this week, after the president’s disastrous debate against GOP foe Donald Trump.
What to know about the fallout from President Biden’s debate performance:
Since President Biden’s embarrassing showing, the White House has faced tough new questions about the protective bubble around him and his cognitive state.
“There’s definitely groupthink,” an adviser to a Democratic donor told Politico, referring to Biden’s inner circle, which has been shielding him.
“They’ve known each other a long time.”
“Any reasonable person watching the debate would have concerns, and dismissing them is, to a lot of people, patronizing,” the source said, referring to some Dem elite who have publicly claimed there’s nothing to see here when it comes to Biden’s mental awareness.
A Democratic operative added of the group, “They don’t take dissent.
“If you try, then you don’t get invited to the next call, the next meeting.”
A senior House Democrat described the Biden team as “pretty insular” and one that “doesn’t really care what anybody says.”
Biden’s debate performance has thrust Democrats into disarray, panicked over their chances of winning the presidency again come Nov. 5 while finger-pointing over the whole ordeal.
Exacerbating concerns is the fact that many prominent Democrats claim Biden hasn’t reached out after the debate to reassure them or give a sense of direction during the firestorm.
A senior Democratic aide told The Post that the president isn’t directly reaching out to any of his party’s lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“You can’t have the problem you’ve had — then go to a campaign rally and think the box is checked,” a Democratic strategist remarked, contending that Biden could have eased concerns by going on the Sunday TV talk shows.
But a White House official pushed back on the claims, telling The Post, “There has been meaningful outreach at a senior level.”
Staffers dispute characterizations of Biden’s briefing behavior
Some current and former staffers also publicly disputed the characterizations of Biden’s behind-the-scenes behavior during briefings.
“I personally helped brief President Biden many times and this was not my experience. In fact, it was the opposite — we were overinclusive about flagging downsides of any recommended course of action so he could fully evaluate costs and benefits,” wrote Bharat Ramamurti, former deputy director of the National Economic Council, on X.
“Does he ask hard questions to make sure ideas hold up? Sure. If that makes you uncomfortable you shouldn’t be briefing the President of the United States.”
Bates also knocked the claims as “unfair distortions of processes that exist in every administration.
“In every administration, there are individuals who would prefer to spend more time with the president and senior officials,” Bates said in a statement.
“President Biden fights hard for families every day, working with a wide range of team members at what he is proud is the most diverse White House ever — and achieving historic results for the American people because of his determination, values, and experience.”
A White House official also told The Post that “the president actively seeks input from a wide range of staff who have had different experiences.
“On [Air Force 1], he’ll sometimes go seat to seat, checking in with folks on their portfolios, how they think a trip went, etc. He’s also very inquisitive to [National Security Council} and domestic policy subject matter experts who rotate in and out,” the official added.
“The group of people in briefings or prep meetings can be eight to 10 at times.”
The president’s campaign claims he will still participate in a Sept. 10 debate against Trump and hosted by ABC News.
Biden also has agreed to sit down for an interview with ABC that will get trickled out on air later this week.
The president has acknowledged his debate shortcomings but insisted, “I would not be running again if I did not believe with all of my heart and soul that I can do this job.”
