In the privacy of Camp David, members of President Joe Biden’s family have criticized his top aides for his poor debate showing on Thursday, Politico reports.
Following Biden’s widely publicized debate on Thursday with former President Donald Trump, the family retreated to the Maryland property for a pre-planned trip.
There, his family members blamed his political advisors and argued they should be demoted or fired, three anonymous sources told Politico.
According to Politico’s sources, the family pointed fingers at three Biden aides in particular: Biden’s senior advisor, Anita Dunn, her husband, Bob Bauer, Biden’s personal attorney, and his former chief of staff, Ron Klain.
Bauer played the role of Trump during mock debates at Camp David, while Klain led the debate prep, Politico reported.
The family argued that the aides had not prepared him enough to go on the offensive.
The media outlet said that the family thought Biden was forced to defend himself against Trump’s accusations rather than speak of his plans for his second term and that he was too tired and unwell to put up a good show.
However, Biden’s campaign spokesperson, Kevin Munoz, told Politico that the president “maintains strong confidence” in his aides.
Munoz told Politico: “The aides who prepped the President have been with him for years, often decades, seeing him through victories and challenges.”
Increasing pressure to step aside
Following Thursday’s debate, Biden has faced increasingly urgent calls to step down.
David Axelrod, an Obama-era White House senior advisor, said on CNN after the debate that there was a “sense of shock” around Biden’s debate performance.
“There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue,” Axelrod said.
The debate also ignited speculation on who Biden’s replacement could be, should he step aside for a younger candidate.
The list of viable alternatives includes Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and more.
But the Biden family has urged the president to stay the course, and a majority of Democratic lawmakers and Biden allies have held the line, reiterating their support for him after the debate.
Harris told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that while the debate had a “slow start,” it had a “strong finish.”
“People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear,” she said to Cooper.
Gov. Newsom of California echoed her sentiments, maintaining his support for Biden in an interview with MSNBC.
“You don’t turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?” Newsom said.
“This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment,” he added.
Biden also tried to rally support at a post-debate campaign event in North Carolina.
“Folks, I might not walk as easily or talk as smoothly as I used to. I might not debate as well as I used to. But what I do know is how to tell the truth,” Biden said on Friday.
Representatives for Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.
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