President Joe Biden’s dog Commander has bitten Secret Service agents at least two dozen times, prompting CNN’s Jake Tapper to declare that it’s time for the Biden family to offload the German Shepherd.
According to an internal U.S. Secret Service document obtained by the cable network through a Freedom of Information Act request, the animal has chomped down on agents and that Commander’s aggressiveness has according to CNN, become a “serious workplace issue for the hundreds of staff supporting White House operations.”
The biting incidents became such a problem that USSS personnel changed their habits to avoid being the next victim of the prized presidential pet.
“The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present – please give lots of room,” one agent wrote in a June 2023 email obtained by the outlet, saying that agents “must be creative to ensure our own personal safety.” The dog was later removed from the White House.
On Wednesday’s edition of “The Lead,” Tapper discussed the biting incidents with Betsy Klein who authored the story, expressing his opinion that the dog must go.
(Video: CNN)
“Did the White House send Commander to live with family immediately after this?” Tapper asked, referring to the email.
“Well, no, Jake, Commander actually remained at the White House for more than three months after this email was sent and there were multiple incidents in that time,” Klein responded. “And exactly one month after that email, an agent working at the Biden’s Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home was bit in the backyard as he walked to his post, and a report we got from that incident said that it caused a severe, deep open wound, that the agent started to lose a significant amount of blood.”
“That agent was treated by the White House medical unit, got six stitches,” she added. “And we learned that more than ten of these total incidents required medical treatment. Now the first family really considers this dog to be part of the family, source close to the Bidens telling CNN that the family is heartbroken and feels awful about the situation.”
“I’ve been in a similar situation. It’s rough, it’s, I don’t mean that as, no, no, I didn’t mean that as a stupid pun, like, it’s difficult, but the dog has to go,” Tapper said.
“The president and first lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day. Despite additional dog training, leashing, working with veterinarians, and consulting with animal behaviorists, the White House environment simply proved too much for Commander. Since the fall, he has lived with other family members,” First Lady Jill Biden’s communications director Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement that was provided to CNN.
“The incidents involving Commander were treated as workplace injuries, with events documented in accordance with Secret Service and US Department of Homeland Security guidelines,” USSS spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the network in a Wednesday statement.
“While Secret Service personnel neither handle nor care for the first family’s pets, we work continuously with all applicable entities in order to minimize any adverse impacts from family pets,” Guglielmi said.
An ill-tempered dog for an ill-tempered man, who’d have thought it?
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.