A team of Biden administration insiders known as the ‘politburo’ were the ‘ultimate decision-makers’ running America as the president’s cognitive health declined, according to a new tell-all book.
A trio of senior political veterans who had known President Joe Biden for decades worked closely with his wife, Dr Jill Biden, and occasionally his troubled son, Hunter, to run the show, according to Jake Tapper’s book, Original Sin.
Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Bruce Reed were the core three decision-makers, the book claims, adding that former senior adviser to the president Annie Tomasini and former White House chief of staff Ron Klain were also ‘at times’ part of the group.
‘Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,’ one source told the authors, Tapper and Alex Thompson.
‘In practice, Bruce Reed was the real domestic policy adviser, Mike Donilon was the actual political director, Steve Ricchetti controlled Legislative Affairs, and Klain controlled a bit of everything.’
The book states that this group could, and would, make decisions without consulting department heads, keeping Biden at an arms length from his own cabinet members and even some of his political aides.
One anonymous insider told the authors: ‘I’ve never seen a situation like this before, with so few people having so much power. They would make huge economic decisions without calling [Treasury] Secretary Yellen.’
The phrase ‘politburo’ is generally reserved for the upper echelon of power within a communist state.
A team of Biden administration insiders known as the ‘politburo’ were the ‘ultimate decision-makers’ running America as the president’s cognitive health declined, according to a new tell-all book
Annie Tomasini (right) has been caught up amid the fury about Biden’s use of the autopen
Donilon had served as a senior advisor to Biden from the beginning of his presidency, but had been a close confidante of Biden’s since at least the 1980s
Donilon had served as a senior advisor to Biden from the beginning of his presidency, but had been a close confidante of Biden’s since at least the 1980s.
He was described as a ‘true believer’ in Biden, and enjoyed mutual trust with the president.
‘The president valued Mike Donilon’s advice so much that aides would later joke that if he wanted, he could get Biden to start a war,’ Thompson and Tapper wrote.
Klain had also known Biden since the 1980s and was influential over policy decisions and key messaging.
According to the book, Biden’s aides had heard him boast of Klain over the years. He would reportedly say: ‘Only one person here is smarter than me, and it’s Ron.’
The book claims: ‘Biden showed a particular deference to Klain even though his chief of staff was often more progressive. Biden had deep respect for Klain’s intellect.’
And Ricchetti was a counselor to Biden throughout the presidency, also working as chief of staff during his vice presidency under Barack Obama.
Obama had, according to the book, expressed concerns about the ‘hangers-on’ within Biden’s circle.
According to the book, both Jill and Hunter Biden were prominent and permanent fixtures within Biden’s circle of trust
‘In practice, Bruce Reed was the real domestic policy adviser’, the book states. Reed is pictured here with Biden in May, 2024
Ricchetti was a counselor to Biden throughout the presidency, also working as chief of staff during his vice presidency under Barack Obama
Most recently, former White House aide Annie Tomasini found herself caught in the crossfires of fury over Biden’s use of autopen during his term.
Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer confirmed last week he had tried to subpoena three key White House aides during the Biden administration – including Tomasini.
He said ‘the Biden White House obstructed the Committee’s investigation and refused to make the aides available for depositions or interviews.’
According to the book, both Jill and Hunter Biden were prominent and permanent fixtures within Biden’s circle of trust.
This is despite aides and insiders partially blaming Hunter for the president’s rapid deterioration.
‘To understand Joe Biden’s deterioration, top aides told us, one has to know Hunter’s struggles,’ the book stated.
While promoting his book, Tapper was asked about Hunter’s role in the administration and influence over his father.
Fueled by information garnered through interviews with more than 200 people for the book, Tapper answered: ‘I think Hunter was driving the decision-making for the family in a way that people – he was almost like a chief of staff of the family.
‘It’s bizarre because I think he is provably demonstrably unethical, sleazy, and prone to horrible decisions,’ Tapper – whose book is called Original Sin – added.
‘After his brother died, he cheated on his wife with his brother’s widow and then got her addicted to crack.
‘I don’t have a lot of personal regard for him, and just based on having nothing to do with,’ he added later on.
‘I barely have ever met him. I’ve met him like once or twice.’