Alex Thompson

And you hear this argument a lot from not just the Politburo, which is what some of the administration came to calling Tom Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, the two top aides, and not just the first family's eyes and ears, Anthony Bernal and Annie Tomasini. But what... Others would say, oh, his decision-making was always fine. His decision-making was always fine. Okay.

And you hear this argument a lot from not just the Politburo, which is what some of the administration came to calling Tom Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, the two top aides, and not just the first family's eyes and ears, Anthony Bernal and Annie Tomasini. But what... Others would say, oh, his decision-making was always fine. His decision-making was always fine. Okay.

The job of the president is not just decision-making.

The job of the president is not just decision-making.

The job of the president is not just decision-making.

One top aide said to us, the job is making hard decisions and communicating them to the American people. And this aide said, he was always able to do number one. Number two was a struggle, and it got worse throughout his presidency. But number two is... So much. Yes, you want the person to be able to make good decisions, but you also they need to persuade. They need to cajole.

One top aide said to us, the job is making hard decisions and communicating them to the American people. And this aide said, he was always able to do number one. Number two was a struggle, and it got worse throughout his presidency. But number two is... So much. Yes, you want the person to be able to make good decisions, but you also they need to persuade. They need to cajole.

One top aide said to us, the job is making hard decisions and communicating them to the American people. And this aide said, he was always able to do number one. Number two was a struggle, and it got worse throughout his presidency. But number two is... So much. Yes, you want the person to be able to make good decisions, but you also they need to persuade. They need to cajole.

They need to be able to the American people need to have faith in this person. Our Western leaders need to have faith in this person. And he lost a lot of that.

They need to be able to the American people need to have faith in this person. Our Western leaders need to have faith in this person. And he lost a lot of that.

They need to be able to the American people need to have faith in this person. Our Western leaders need to have faith in this person. And he lost a lot of that.

Yeah. And if it hadn't been for COVID, who knows if that would have even worked in 2020. I mean, COVID, as one aide told us, was a huge tragedy and disaster for the American people, but a gift to Biden in 2020 because it enabled him to basically have a very inactive campaign schedule that was largely dependent on him doing Zooms.

Yeah. And if it hadn't been for COVID, who knows if that would have even worked in 2020. I mean, COVID, as one aide told us, was a huge tragedy and disaster for the American people, but a gift to Biden in 2020 because it enabled him to basically have a very inactive campaign schedule that was largely dependent on him doing Zooms.

Yeah. And if it hadn't been for COVID, who knows if that would have even worked in 2020. I mean, COVID, as one aide told us, was a huge tragedy and disaster for the American people, but a gift to Biden in 2020 because it enabled him to basically have a very inactive campaign schedule that was largely dependent on him doing Zooms.

No. No. And in fact, so in October 2023 is the last cabinet meeting, I think, until September 2024. And that period begins what one cabinet secretary of several we spoke with described as the weird period. where they were kept at bay. They didn't get a chance to interact with the president. There were exceptions to this, Blinken, the Secretary of State, and Austin, the Secretary of Defense.

No. No. And in fact, so in October 2023 is the last cabinet meeting, I think, until September 2024. And that period begins what one cabinet secretary of several we spoke with described as the weird period. where they were kept at bay. They didn't get a chance to interact with the president. There were exceptions to this, Blinken, the Secretary of State, and Austin, the Secretary of Defense.

No. No. And in fact, so in October 2023 is the last cabinet meeting, I think, until September 2024. And that period begins what one cabinet secretary of several we spoke with described as the weird period. where they were kept at bay. They didn't get a chance to interact with the president. There were exceptions to this, Blinken, the Secretary of State, and Austin, the Secretary of Defense.

But for the most part, a lot of these secretaries were just completely kept at arm's length. And one of them said that during that period, spring of 2024, the secretary did have a meeting with Biden, and he was mumbly, and incoherent and difficult to understand. And this person left the cabinet, that meeting, this cabinet secretary left that meeting upset and disturbed. But no one came forward.

But for the most part, a lot of these secretaries were just completely kept at arm's length. And one of them said that during that period, spring of 2024, the secretary did have a meeting with Biden, and he was mumbly, and incoherent and difficult to understand. And this person left the cabinet, that meeting, this cabinet secretary left that meeting upset and disturbed. But no one came forward.

But for the most part, a lot of these secretaries were just completely kept at arm's length. And one of them said that during that period, spring of 2024, the secretary did have a meeting with Biden, and he was mumbly, and incoherent and difficult to understand. And this person left the cabinet, that meeting, this cabinet secretary left that meeting upset and disturbed. But no one came forward.