News/Commentary

‘Jerk move’: Radio silence from Biden since dropping out – Zients informed cabinet, WH staff

July 22, 2024 | | Print Article

As the question “Where is Joe Biden?” trended, a report indicated the “jerk move” pulled to inform the Cabinet and staff about his withdrawal.

Days since President Joe Biden absconded to his Delaware home to self-isolate over his latest COVID diagnosis and nearly 24 hours after suspending his re-election campaign, the resident-in-chief remained unseen and unheard from by the American people.

Monday, as White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients handled calls with staff and all political appointments, it was reported that he, not the president, notified the administration of Biden’s withdrawal.

Reacting to a post from Revv founder Gerrit Lansing, the company behind WinRed, that read, “The WH Chief of Staff called Cabinet officials to tell them, not Biden?” journalist Mary Katharine Ham wrote, “It’s a jerk move not to call these people himself. If he’s not calling them and he’s not making a to-camera statement in this moment, even taped, why?”

As Zients was slated to handle calls with the executive branch throughout the morning, Axios national political correspondent Alex Thompson reported that Vice President Kamala Harris’ schedule had been updated to include a trip to Wilmington, Delaware Monday afternoon following an event celebrating the NCAA championship teams from the White House South Lawn.

The trip was described as a “campaign engagement” that would include “pooled press.”

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Meanwhile, White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor released an update on the president’s COVID diagnosis Sunday and detailed to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that Biden, “completed his eighth dose of PAXLOVID this morning. His symptoms have improved significantly. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature remain absolutely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”

O’Connor further stated, “The President continues to tolerate treatment without any difficulty and will continue PAXLOVID as planned. He continues to perform all of his presidential duties. I will continue to keep your office updated with any changes in his condition or treatment plan.”

While Harris was Delaware-bound, Biden’s own schedule remained clear outside of his 10 a.m. daily briefing which remained closed to the press:

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According to the Associated Press, the president was still expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was on his way to Washington, D.C. where he will address Congress on Wednesday.

“In this time of war and uncertainty, it’s important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together,” Netanyahu said as he noted America remained an ally to Israel, “regardless who the American people choose as their next president.”

The degree to which Biden was being kept out of the public eye as his re-election campaign came to a close and calls for him to step down from office due to being unfit to serve intensified, comments on social media couldn’t help but wonder “#WhereIsJoeBiden.”

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Kevin Haggerty
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