Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the reason Biden’s debate performance was so bad during the presidential debate with Trump was not because his staff had over prepared him as many of his family members have been claiming.
Psaki, who has her own show on MSNBC, said that it was “absurd” for anyone to blame former chief of staff Ron Klain and senior adviser Anita Dunn for messing things up in the way that they prepped him for the debate.
She posted on X saying Biden was bad. “Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at ‘prep’ you are not talking about the right things.”
“It was a bad debate. I have no doubt they were tough, strategic and direct (Believe me I have seen them in action),” she said.
Biden’s family and friends blame his aides
Biden’s family members, friends and some donors, however, allege that Klain, Dunn and her husband and Biden’s lawyer Bob Bauer worked him too hard, and they may be fired.
They also allege that the trio advised him wrongly not to go on the offensive, which left him open to attacks from Trump.
Dunn, who is senior adviser for communications and also a campaign strategist during Obama’s administration, is said to have the President’s ear.
Biden fundraiser and Florida-based lawyer John Morgan said Biden’s team was guilty of malpractice and Dunn and her husband should “be fired forever and never let back anywhere near the campaign”.
”It is my belief that he was over-coached, over-practiced. And i believe [senior aide] Anita Dunn … put him in a venue that was conducive for Trump and not for him,” said Morgan.
Dunn’s hubby Bauer played the role of Trump during pre-debate and mock debate rehearsals.
Klain, who is also the subject of alleged finger-pointing by Biden’s family, issued a statement post-debate saying, “In 38 years of working with Joe Biden, we’ve had many successes and some failures. I’m alway happy to share in the good results and assume my share of the responsibility for the times we’ve come up short.”
Biden’s campaign spokesperson, Kevin Munoz, also issued a statement saying that Biden’s aides who prepped him for the debate have been with him for many years, and he continues to have confidence in them.