Jill Biden’s crusade to uphold the Biden political legacy is backfiring badly, at least if a close former aide is to be believed.
The Daily Caller reported that Michael LaRosa, once a loyal press secretary to the first lady, has publicly criticized the Biden team’s handling of Joe Biden’s post-presidency public appearances, claiming their strategy is tarnishing the former president’s legacy.
LaRosa aired these concerns on Fox News Sunday, pointing to mishandled narratives around Biden’s cognitive health. His remarks expose a growing rift among former allies.
LaRosa’s tenure with Jill Biden gave him a front-row seat to the administration’s inner workings. He now argues that the first lady’s efforts to bolster her husband’s image are doing more harm than good. The critique stings, given his long-standing loyalty.
The Biden team has long dreaded unscripted moments, LaRosa revealed. They feared Joe Biden’s gaffes could unravel his image in today’s relentless media landscape. This caution shaped their tightly controlled strategy, but it’s now cracking under pressure.
Concerns about Biden’s cognitive decline were whispered behind closed doors. LaRosa admitted the team botched the fallout from Biden’s initial 2024 reelection bid, ignoring internal warnings. Their silence fueled a narrative they can’t control.
LaRosa didn’t mince words about the administration’s missteps. “They’ve got to start adjusting the people that they’re listening to,” he urged, noting their current advisors have led them astray. Loyalty, it seems, has limits.
In February 2024, LaRosa sounded an alarm: Biden’s reelection gamble could erase his legacy if he lost to Donald Trump. That warning now haunts the team as they scramble to redefine Biden’s narrative. Hindsight, as always, is brutal.
The Biden camp previously dismissed internal concerns, LaRosa claimed, even “gaslighting” voters about waning party support. This denialism left them unprepared for the fallout. Actions, it turns out, have consequences.
Recent high-profile appearances underscore the team’s desperation. Joe Biden appeared on the BBC to discuss his 2024 withdrawal and jab at Trump’s foreign policy. On “The View,” alongside Jill, he defended his cognitive fitness—a move LaRosa deems too little, too late.
A forthcoming book, “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, pulls back the curtain further. It reveals aides privately discussed Biden needing a wheelchair in a potential second term due to his physical decline. The image is jarring for a former commander-in-chief.
The book also notes Biden’s struggle to recall key aides’ names. This detail paints a troubling picture of a leader shielded from scrutiny. Empathy for Biden’s condition clashes with questions about transparency.
Even cabinet secretaries were kept at arm’s length, the book claims, as Biden’s inner circle hid his decline. This protective bubble, meant to preserve his image, now fuels criticism. Secrecy rarely ages well.
LaRosa questioned the timing of Biden’s media blitz. “Why are you starting now?” he asked, arguing they should have shaped the narrative 10 months ago. Waiting, he suggests, was a strategic fumble.
The Biden team’s “fight or flight” mentality, LaRosa said, drives their current push to define his legacy. “Media historians and Democrats will only define him by whether he wins or loses,” he warned. That ship, however, has sailed.
LaRosa’s critique is a wake-up call for the Bidens. Their legacy, once a point of pride, now hangs in the balance. Adjusting course, as LaRosa urges, might salvage what remains—if they listen.