Joe Biden’s personal cell phone number became a political landmine when a journalist dialed it directly. In a new book, a reporter’s unexpected access to the former president’s private line sent Biden’s aides into a frantic tailspin, as Fox News reports. The incident exposes the tight control Biden’s team exerted, raising questions about transparency in his administration.
A book released Tuesday, co-authored by New York Times reporter Tyler Pager and others, details how Pager reached Biden on his cell in March 2024 to request an interview. The former president answered, agreed to talk the next day, and fielded a few questions before cutting the call short to catch a train. This brief exchange triggered a swift reaction from Biden’s inner circle, who were stunned that Pager had the number.
Biden’s aides quickly contacted Pager, their alarm palpable over how he obtained the president’s contact. Their response wasn’t just concern -- it was a scramble to plug a perceived leak in their fortress. This overreaction suggests a team obsessed with controlling access, wary of unfiltered scrutiny.
Pager shared the story on a podcast with Kara Swisher, who quipped, “This is why they lost.” Her jab cuts deep, implying Biden’s team’s paranoia alienated the press and, by extension, the public. The comment underscores a broader narrative of an administration dodging accountability.
After the interview, Pager found his number blocked by Biden’s team, a petty move that screams defensiveness. Two days later, Biden’s phone number was disconnected entirely, as if the call was a national security breach. This knee-jerk response reeks of a team more focused on optics than openness.
A Biden spokesperson dodged Fox News Digital’s request for comment, and a representative flat-out declined to address the issue. Their silence speaks volumes, reinforcing perceptions of a presidency shrouded in secrecy. Stonewalling the press only fuels distrust, a misstep Biden’s team repeatedly made.
The book, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, isn’t alone in peeling back Biden’s curtain. Other recent releases, like Jake Tapper’s Original Sin and Jonathan Allen’s Fight, detail allegations of Biden’s mental decline and his team’s efforts to shield him. These accounts paint a picture of a presidency carefully stage-managed to hide vulnerabilities.
Tapper’s book, released in May, and Allen’s, out in April, describe a White House insulating Biden from media scrutiny. Chris Whipple’s Uncharted, also from April, echoes claims of a team curating Biden’s public image. This pattern suggests a deliberate strategy to limit exposure, not just a one-off phone fiasco.
A House Oversight Committee probe, backed by the Trump administration, is now digging into claims that Biden’s team concealed his cognitive struggles. Nine former White House officials are slated to testify soon, potentially amplifying these allegations. The investigation could cement the narrative of a presidency built on carefully crafted illusions.
Biden told Pager he viewed Trump’s second term as “very negative,” claiming he didn’t “see anything he’s done that’s been productive.” This sour grapes remark reveals more about Biden’s bitterness than Trump’s record. It’s a deflection from his own administration’s stumbles.
On dropping out of the 2024 race, Biden said, “No, not now. I don’t spend a lot of time on regrets.” His cavalier tone dismisses the chaos his exit caused, ignoring the Democratic disarray that followed.
A former Biden speechwriter took to X, scoffing at the idea that journalists should have direct access to the president’s phone. “That strikes me as... insane,” they posted, mocking the expectation of transparency. Their snark misses the point: a president’s team shouldn’t panic when a reporter does their job.
The cell phone saga is a microcosm of Biden’s presidency -- guarded, reactive, and allergic to scrutiny. Pager’s call wasn’t a breach; it was journalism. Yet, Biden’s team treated it like a crisis, exposing their fragility.
Blocking Pager’s number and disconnecting Biden’s phone weren’t just defensive -- they were desperate. These actions betray a team more concerned with controlling the narrative than engaging with the public. It’s no wonder trust in the administration eroded.
The books, the probe, and this incident all point to one truth: Biden’s team built a bunker, not a presidency. Their obsession with shielding him left them blindsided when a simple phone call slipped through. In their scramble, they forgot the first rule of leadership: the truth always finds a way out.
