During a recent call with Democratic House lawmakers, President Biden received a private note from a staffer advising him to “stay positive” — a message he inadvertently read out loud. The note card contained tips to help the 81-year-old president as he sought to reassure members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus about his fitness to serve and his ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
“Stay positive, you are sounding defensive,” Biden said during the call, apparently reading directly from the note card. This moment highlighted how “stage-managed” such interactions between the president and concerned lawmakers have appeared, according to one lawmaker who spoke with the New York Times. Despite this, the same lawmaker interpreted the incident as Biden “poking fun at his aides” rather than mistakenly reading the private memo.
President Biden is known for relying on note cards during press conferences, summits, and private fundraisers, which often include instructions on where to sit, what to do, and who people are. His reliance on these prompts has been a topic of discussion, particularly after he read “pause” off a teleprompter during a campaign speech in April.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, described the call with Biden as “productive and engaging.” She noted on X (formerly Twitter) that they had a frank discussion with the president about their concerns and posed tough questions about the path forward. Jayapal appreciated Biden’s willingness to thoughtfully respond and address their members.
The call with the CPC happened on the same day Biden reportedly had a “tense” Zoom call with moderate Democrats. According to attendees, the president’s performance during this call was even worse than the debate, with some participants noting that he appeared rambling, dismissive of concerns, and unable to present a clear campaign strategy.
This has led to mounting calls from Democrats urging Biden to end his re-election campaign, especially following a disastrous June 27 debate against Donald Trump, where several polls indicated the incumbent trailing the former president.
