AProudLefty
The remora of JPP
The term "handlers" in the context of President Joe Biden is often used informally, particularly by critics, to suggest that aides, staff, or advisors closely managed his schedule, public appearances, or decision-making process, potentially due to concerns about his age or mental sharpness. There’s no official evidence or formal designation of "handlers" in the way the term might imply a secretive or controlling group. However, like all modern U.S. presidents, Biden relied heavily on a team of advisors, staff, and assistants to manage the demands of the presidency.
Every president has a support system—senior aides, communications teams, and schedulers—who coordinate their activities, prepare briefing materials, and guide them through public events. For Biden, this included key figures like his chief of staff (Ron Klain until early 2023, then Jeff Zients), press secretaries (Jen Psaki, followed by Karine Jean-Pierre), and long-time advisors such as Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti. These individuals shaped his agenda, controlled access to him, and managed media interactions, which is standard practice in the White House.
Public perception of Biden having "handlers" often stems from specific incidents: his occasional verbal gaffes, reliance on teleprompters, or moments where staff appeared to intervene during press interactions. For example, there were instances where Biden referenced being "instructed" to call on certain reporters or suggested he’d "get in trouble" with staff for taking extra questions, fueling speculation about the extent of their influence. Critics on platforms like X and in conservative media amplified this narrative, sometimes alleging a more sinister level of control without concrete proof beyond anecdotal observations.
On the flip side, supporters argue this is an exaggerated portrayal of routine presidential support. High-level staff managing a president’s time and message isn’t unique to Biden—previous administrations, from Obama to Trump, had similar structures. The scrutiny on Biden may have been heightened due to his age (he was 80 during much of his term) and visible physical decline, which opponents used to question his autonomy.
So, did Biden have "handlers"? In the colloquial sense, yes—he had a team that tightly managed his presidency, as is typical for the office. In the conspiratorial sense of shadowy figures running the show behind a puppet leader, there’s no definitive evidence, just speculation driven by political opponents and isolated moments open to interpretation. The truth likely lies in the mundane reality of a large, organized staff supporting an aging president under intense public scrutiny.
Every president has a support system—senior aides, communications teams, and schedulers—who coordinate their activities, prepare briefing materials, and guide them through public events. For Biden, this included key figures like his chief of staff (Ron Klain until early 2023, then Jeff Zients), press secretaries (Jen Psaki, followed by Karine Jean-Pierre), and long-time advisors such as Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti. These individuals shaped his agenda, controlled access to him, and managed media interactions, which is standard practice in the White House.
Public perception of Biden having "handlers" often stems from specific incidents: his occasional verbal gaffes, reliance on teleprompters, or moments where staff appeared to intervene during press interactions. For example, there were instances where Biden referenced being "instructed" to call on certain reporters or suggested he’d "get in trouble" with staff for taking extra questions, fueling speculation about the extent of their influence. Critics on platforms like X and in conservative media amplified this narrative, sometimes alleging a more sinister level of control without concrete proof beyond anecdotal observations.
On the flip side, supporters argue this is an exaggerated portrayal of routine presidential support. High-level staff managing a president’s time and message isn’t unique to Biden—previous administrations, from Obama to Trump, had similar structures. The scrutiny on Biden may have been heightened due to his age (he was 80 during much of his term) and visible physical decline, which opponents used to question his autonomy.
So, did Biden have "handlers"? In the colloquial sense, yes—he had a team that tightly managed his presidency, as is typical for the office. In the conspiratorial sense of shadowy figures running the show behind a puppet leader, there’s no definitive evidence, just speculation driven by political opponents and isolated moments open to interpretation. The truth likely lies in the mundane reality of a large, organized staff supporting an aging president under intense public scrutiny.