A newly released exposé sheds light on what the authors describe as a deeply insular and powerful group of advisers controlling the Biden White House, likening the dynamic to that of a “politburo” operating behind closed doors, as the president’s physical and cognitive condition reportedly continued to diminish.
This inner circle, dubbed the “politburo” in Original Sin, consisted of longtime political operatives like Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, and Bruce Reed, as well as close family members, including First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden, the president’s son.
“In terms of who was running the White House, it’s a small group of people that have been around,” “Original Sin” author Alex Thompson told PBS’ “Washington Week” on Friday. “Some people within the administration called them the Politburo. That’s the term we used in the book.”
Among those occasionally considered part of this influential clique were former White House chief of staff Ron Klain and Annie Tomasini, a previous senior adviser. Also in this tight group was Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden’s ex-top aide and “work husband,” who has been accused in past reports of fostering a hostile work environment.
“And Joe Biden himself also is part of this. Joe Biden is not like — it’s not ‘Weekend at Bernie’s,’ right?” said co-author and CNN anchor Jake Tapper, referring to the dark comedy film in which a deceased man is propped up and moved around to trick others.
“He has some purchase here. He has some agency. And he’s aware of some of what’s going on.”
Tapper further stated: “He’s aware of the fact that they are keeping the cabinet away from him, they are keeping some White House staffers away from him.”
The word “politburo” is most commonly associated with communist regimes’ leadership bodies. But in the case of Biden’s administration, the term was used informally to describe this unelected group that effectively drove decisions. Many of its members had been close to Biden for decades and held significant sway over both his 2020 campaign and presidency.
“Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,” one source familiar with White House operations told the book’s authors.
A sitting cabinet secretary expressed frustration about the small circle’s immense control, remarking, “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 authors assert that this inner circle often dismissed public concerns over Biden’s age or cognitive state. They viewed such critiques not as genuine limitations but rather as political hurdles to be spun and neutralized.
They believed that Biden’s track record of legislative wins justified his reelection bid—and by extension, their continued roles in power, according to the book.
Even Barack Obama had expressed apprehension about the people surrounding Biden, particularly during his 2020 campaign, reportedly warning, “I don’t want him to be humiliated.”
Former Obama staffers noted a different management style during Biden’s presidency. Whereas Obama routinely engaged with mid-level and junior aides, Biden primarily held discussions with his core national security advisers and the “politburo.”
“Obama would hash it out with deputies and mid-level aides. Biden, by contrast, mostly met with the Politburo and his top national security aides,” the book said.
“Many of Biden’s own aides were also kept at arm’s length from the president.”
The book reveals that regardless of their official titles, specific individuals essentially filled key roles: “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.”
Donilon, who started as a senior adviser at the beginning of Biden’s presidency and moved over to the 2024 campaign, has been close to Biden since the 1980s.
During his campaign tenure, he reportedly earned $4 million, a staggering figure. Obama campaign veteran David Axelrod is quoted as saying Donilon was so personally invested in Biden that he couldn’t “accept the truth.”
Donilon, a seasoned pollster and media consultant, earned Biden’s deep trust and was seen as someone whose counsel could sway the president profoundly.
“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.
Ricchetti served in a variety of roles for Biden, including counselor to the president and his chief of staff during part of Biden’s time as vice president. His resume also includes service in the Clinton administration as deputy chief of staff for operations.
In the Biden White House, Ricchetti played an instrumental role in key legislative negotiations and often weighed in on campaign and messaging strategies.
At one point, he reportedly called a journalist off the record to refute claims about Biden’s health. Later, when George Clooney publicly urged Biden to exit the race, Ricchetti erupted in anger.
“Ricchetti read it and was furious. Internally, he threatened to shut Clooney down—some of his colleagues thought he sounded like a mob boss,” the authors wrote.
Reed had worked as Biden’s chief of staff during the early days of his vice presidency before Ricchetti took over the position. A policy expert with roots in the Clinton White House, Reed played a key role in preparing Biden for the debate with President Trump—an appearance widely seen as a failure.
Ron Klain, who served as Biden’s first chief of staff as president, was a central figure in the administration’s decision-making processes. Even after his formal departure in February 2023, he remained influential and reportedly assisted Biden in preparing for his debate with Trump last summer.
Klain had been working with Biden since the 1980s and also served on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. The authors describe a deep bond between the two men.
“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. ‘Only one person here is smarter than me and it’s Ron,’ aides heard him say,” the book claimed.
Jill Biden, according to the authors, played a leading role in shielding the president from public missteps—an effort that some insiders referred to as “bubble wrap.” Meanwhile, Hunter Biden was focused on ensuring that his father stayed in the race for 2024.
In the early days of Biden’s political career, the first lady was described as a reluctant participant. But as the years progressed, she took on a stronger role in the administration, occasionally reprimanding aides for letting Biden talk too long in front of the press.
Hunter Biden’s ongoing personal challenges also weighed heavily on the president, according to the book, and some aides saw this emotional toll as a factor in Biden’s overall decline.
“To understand Joe Biden’s deterioration, top aides told us, one has to know Hunter’s struggles,” the book said.
Several members of the so-called politburo reportedly helped place their own family members into prominent positions within the administration.
Donilon’s niece was appointed to a post on the National Security Council, the book reports.
Reed’s daughter served as a scheduler for the president, and Ricchetti’s children also secured jobs in various parts of the federal government, according to Original Sin.
Top Biden loyalists have pushed back against much of what’s detailed in the book. But Thompson noted that his confidence in White House denials had eroded over time due to repeated evidence contradicting official claims.
“Original Sin” was released to the public last Tuesday.
{Matzav.com}
