President Biden's staffers have been reported to meticulously prepare him with detailed instructions on how to navigate fundraiser event spaces. The instructions, obtained by a source, include a document with bold letters instructing Biden to 'Walk to podium,' accompanied by photos showing a clear pathway to the podium adorned with the White House insignia.
Some Democrats who have attended or assisted in setting up events for Biden have expressed curiosity about the level of detail, speculating whether it reflects limitations of the 81-year-old president. One individual who staffed a Biden event in the past 18 months likened the preparation to that of a NATO summit.
A five-page document template reportedly sent to White House staffers to prepare the president typically includes large pictures of the event space on each page, with annotations such as 'View from podium' and 'View from audience.'
Following concerns about Biden's debate performance against former President Trump and his viability for a second term, the White House has defended the detailed instructions as standard practice. White House officials emphasized that such meticulous planning is essential for presidential advance work, regardless of the president in office.
Reacting to the report, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stated that these detailed briefings are common practice for any principal, including Vice President Harris. Similarly, Vice President Harris' communications director, Kirsten Allen, affirmed that such logistical briefing materials are standard for principals.
A White House official explained that the detailed documents are a customary part of advance team work, which may seem excessive to those unfamiliar with such intensive preparations. Former aides who worked with Biden during his vice presidency noted that the documents then focused more on site diagrams.
