A new book reveals Biden’s aides changed his phone number after Washington Post reporter Tyler Pager directly called the president. During the unexpected call, Biden criticized Trump and indicated a willingness to be interviewed further. Aides reportedly shielded Biden from negative campaign feedback, providing only optimistic assessments despite internal polling showing no path to victory. The incident highlights stark differences between Biden’s tightly controlled media access versus Trump’s more direct approach.
Biden’s Unauthorized Interview Sparks Aide Panic
According to a forthcoming book titled “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” President Joe Biden’s inner circle took extraordinary measures to isolate him from both the press and fellow Democrats who attempted to warn him about his campaign’s deteriorating condition. The book, authored by Washington Post reporters Josh Dawsey and Isaac Arnsdorf along with New York Times reporter Tyler Pager, details how Biden’s handlers created a protective bubble around the president, filtering information and strictly controlling access.
The most revealing incident occurred when Pager managed to obtain Biden’s personal cell phone number and called him directly. During this unexpected conversation, Biden criticized President Donald Trump, saying, “I don’t see anything he’s done that’s been productive.” When asked about possibly ending his re-election campaign, Biden responded, “No, not now. I don’t spend a lot of time on regrets.” The president even indicated willingness to participate in further interviews for the book the following day.
New book exposes Jill Biden’s power grab amid husband’s political demise https://t.co/CW2EPBDOfs pic.twitter.com/UoF26GJxbp
— New York Post (@nypost) July 8, 2025
Extreme Damage Control Follows Unsanctioned Call
Biden’s team reportedly erupted in anger following the unauthorized interview. The authors describe how the president’s aides repeatedly contacted Pager, scolding him for directly reaching out to Biden. Within two days, they had taken the dramatic step of disconnecting Biden’s phone number entirely and issuing him a new one. This incident exemplifies the extraordinary measures Biden’s inner circle employed to control information flow both to and from the president.
“No, not now. I don’t spend a lot of time on regrets.” – Joe Biden
When Pager continued seeking interviews, Biden’s staff claimed the president was working on his own memoir, suggesting that his work created a conflict with participating in the reporters’ book project. Biden’s apparent openness during the unexpected call contrasts sharply with his team’s subsequent lockdown efforts, highlighting the tight control they maintain over his public communications and press interactions.
‘INAPPROPRIATE’: A new book exposes the extent of Hunter Biden’s influence in the White House, revealing he joined a high-level call on a landmark Supreme Court ruling—sparking backlash from a top advisor to @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/aCZGVPeXCP
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 8, 2025
The Truth Kept From Biden
The book reveals a concerning pattern beyond just media management. Democratic leaders, including House members, reportedly grew increasingly frustrated that Biden was being shielded from the reality of his campaign’s struggles. Congressman Pete Aguilar directly questioned Biden adviser Steve Ricchetti: “Do you realize how awful it is? Has anyone told the president how awful it is?” He later added, “Steve, has anyone walked into the Oval and told the president that we could lose everything?”
According to the book, campaign pollsters found no viable path to victory for Biden, yet this information was sanitized before reaching him. Even traditional Democratic strongholds like Virginia, Minnesota, and New Mexico were becoming competitive races—facts allegedly concealed from the president. Meanwhile, Biden’s cognitive decline, evident in numerous public appearances, was dismissed by his team as partisan attacks despite mounting video evidence of verbal stumbles and confusion.
Media Access: Biden vs. Trump
The phone number incident highlights the stark contrast between Biden’s highly controlled media strategy and President Trump’s more direct approach to press interactions. While Biden’s team created layers of protection around the president, limiting unscripted engagements, Trump was known for his accessibility to reporters—frequently engaging with the press directly and often calling journalists personally. This fundamental difference in communication style became a defining feature of both administrations.
The allegations of a controlled information environment have extended beyond campaign matters. The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into claims that Biden’s mental decline was systematically concealed, with testimonies expected from former senior White House officials. Meanwhile, a former Biden speechwriter defended the administration’s media management, questioning whether “it’s normal and important for any journalist to have the personal cell phone number of the president.”
Sources:
- Biden’s team scolded reporters and changed his number after they called his personal cellphone.