New book reveals Biden’s teleprompter use enraged donors at private events
Former President Joe Biden’s reliance on a teleprompter during public events, even in front of small private audiences, left donors feeling disappointed and frustrated, according to a new book titled “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.” Written by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, the book sheds light on Biden’s use of a teleprompter as a crutch to deliver speeches, even in intimate settings where donors expected a more personal interaction with the president.
The book recounts an incident where Biden read from a teleprompter in front of just thirty people at a fundraiser in a Palo Alto mansion, leaving donors feeling like they were simply witnessing a canned speech they could have watched on TV. The presence of the teleprompter led to months of complaints from donors who had paid significant amounts of money for the opportunity to hear directly from the president.
Despite aides defending the use of the teleprompter as a tool to keep Biden on schedule, the book reveals that donors were irked by the president’s reliance on the machine. The situation escalated after Biden’s lackluster performance in a debate against President Donald Trump in June 2024, which raised concerns about his mental acuity among his supporters.
Following the debate, Biden attended a campaign event at Virginia Democrat Rep. Dan Beyers’ house without a teleprompter, speaking for only about six minutes. The campaign sought to demonstrate that Biden could speak off the cuff, but the president attributed his poor debate performance to a heavy travel schedule and admitted to almost falling asleep on stage.
The book highlights the repeated references to the word “teleprompter” throughout, emphasizing Biden’s dependence on the machine and the concerns among some staffers that it was necessary to prevent unexpected situations as his health declined. Staff members at the White House were reportedly focused on avoiding surprises and ensuring that Biden’s public appearances were scripted and predictable.
As Biden’s health continued to deteriorate, concerns mounted about his mental acuity and fitness to serve as president. Despite efforts to downplay his decline, the book reveals that aides restricted access to the president and limited direct interactions with him to prevent any further public mishaps.
Ultimately, Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race amid mounting concerns about his health and mental sharpness, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. However, Harris’ campaign failed to gain traction against Trump, who ultimately won the election.
The revelations in the book raise questions about Biden’s leadership and decision-making during his presidency, shedding light on the challenges he faced due to his reliance on a teleprompter and concerns about his health. The impact of these factors on the outcome of the 2024 election underscores the importance of transparency and effective communication in political leadership.
