Biden staffers give president detailed, illustrated instructions to guide his public appearances: report

President Joe Biden’s staffers have been meticulously preparing him for speeches and public appearances by providing detailed documents with large photos and text that show exactly where he needs to walk to reach the podium.

According to a report by Axios, Biden’s staffers prepare short documents with large print to help him navigate events. These documents include photos of the stage, marked with instructions such as "view from podium" and "view from audience." Additionally, the documents contain separate pages with pictures labeled "walk to podium" to guide the President to his speaking spot, per Axios.

"It surprised me that a seasoned political pro like the president would need detailed verbal and visual instructions on how to enter and exit a room,” a staffer who assisted with a fundraiser told Axios.

Individuals close to Biden have confirmed the necessity of such detailed instructions. An anonymous source who has staffed Biden over the past 18 months mentioned, "I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements.”

In response to the report, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated that "high levels of detail and precision are critical to presidential advance work — regardless of who is president — and these are basic approaches that are used by any modern advance team, including the vice president's office and agencies."

Vice President Kamala Harris' spokesperson Kirsten Allen echoed this sentiment, saying, "These documents are standard logistical briefing materials and photos for any principal, including the vice president."

However, the Axios report highlights that Biden's detailed instructions and planned movements are far more intricate than those provided to the vice president, and even the ones he received when he was vice president for Barack Obama. While the White House argued that any president’s movements are carefully planned, the emphasis on mundane movements by Biden is likely due to his history of appearing confused or lost during events. 

In multiple instances, President Biden has struggled to walk on and off stage when speaking at events. Often, First Lady Jill Biden holds his hand to physically walk him off stage. The extensive efforts by Biden’s aides to plan out his every move during public events are likely an attempt to avoid more allegations that the president is too old and weak to be in office.