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The Biden family is blaming his aides for his poor debate results, Politico reports.
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Sources say they pointed fingers at adviser Anita Dunn, attorney Bob Bauer and Biden’s former chief of staff Ron Klain.
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This comes as Biden is under increasing pressure to withdraw from the presidential race.
In the privacy of Camp David, family members of President Joe Biden criticized his top advisers for his poor presentation during Thursday’s debates, Politico reports.
After Biden’s widely publicized debate with the former president on Thursday President Donald Trumpthe family retreated to the Maryland estate for a pre-planned trip.
There, his family members blamed his political advisers and argued that they should be demoted or fired, three anonymous sources told Politico.
According to Politico’s sources, the family pointed to three Biden associates in particular: Biden’s top adviser, Anita Dunn, her husband, Bob Bauer, Biden’s personal attorney, and his former chief of staff, Ron Klain.
Bauer played the role of Trump during the mock debates at Camp David, while Klain led the debate preparation, Politico reported.
The family argued that the aides had not adequately prepared him for the attack.
The media said the family believed Biden was forced to defend himself against Trump’s accusations instead of talking about his plans for his second term, and that he was too tired and unwell to put on a good show.
However, Biden’s campaign spokesman, Kevin Munoz, told Politico that the president “maintains great trust” in his aides.
Munoz told Politico: “The aides who have prepared the president have been with him for years, often decades, guiding him through victories and challenges.”
The pressure to step aside is increasing
After Thursday’s debate, Biden faced increasingly urgent calls to resign.
David Axelrod, a senior Obama-era White House adviser, said on CNN after the debate that there was a “sense of shock” surrounding Biden’s debate performance.
“There will be discussions about whether he should continue,” Axelrod said.
The debate also sparked speculation about who could replace Biden if he steps down in favor of a younger candidate.
The list of viable alternatives includes Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and more.
But the Biden family has urged the president to stay the course, and a majority of Democratic lawmakers and Biden allies stood firm, reiterating their support for him after the debate.
Harris told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that while the debate had a “slow start,” it had a “strong finish.”
“People can debate points of style, but ultimately this election and who becomes president of the United States should be about substance. And the contrast is clear,” she told Cooper.
California Governor Newsom echoed her sentiments and maintained his support for Biden in an interview with MSNBC.
“You don’t turn around for one performance. What kind of party does that?” Newsom said.
“This president has delivered. We have to deliver for him right now,” he added.
Biden also tried to rally support at a post-debate campaign event in North Carolina.
“Folks, I may not walk as smoothly, I may not talk as smoothly as I used to. I may not debate as well as I used to. But what I do know is how to tell the truth,” Biden said Friday.
Representatives for Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.
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