Two investigative books have shed light on the significant role that former First Lady Jill Biden played in shaping messaging and personnel decisions during her husband Joe Biden’s last months in office.
The authors of “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America” (released July 8, 2025) by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, and “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” (published May 20, 2025) by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, explore these dynamics.
According to these books, as President Biden’s cognitive challenges became more apparent, particularly after a debate performance in June 2024, Jill Biden assumed a more assertive leadership role. Her influence was mainly exercised through trusted aides such as her chief of staff, Anthony Bernal, and deputy chief, Annie Tomasini. Through these aides, she controlled access, messaging, and hiring, with some staff being labeled as the White House “loyalty police.”
“Original Sin” recounts an incident where Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was discussing polling concerns after the debate when Dr. Biden abruptly ended the conversation with “We gotta go.” The book portrays Jill Biden as both a supporter of Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and as someone who denied his declining health, privately criticizing staff while publicly defending him.
In “2024,” Dawsey and his co-authors describe Jill Biden’s unexpected presence at Hunter Biden’s federal trial in June 2024, including her travel to France for D-Day ceremonies and return within 24 hours, surprising West Wing staff.
The New York Post reports that both books describe a strict ban on discussing Hunter Biden’s legal issues, enforced by Jill Biden’s faction to manage public perception.
The authors detail internal conflicts, including disputes between Anthony Bernal and veteran strategist Anita Dunn, who advocated for more transparency regarding the Biden family’s legal issues and greater media openness, as reported by Fox News.
New Testimony and Investigations
Former Chief of Staff Ron Klain’s recent testimony has corroborated these narratives. In July 2025, Klain informed the House Oversight Committee that Biden appeared “less energetic,” had memory lapses, and was deemed “not politically viable” by senior figures like Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan during 2024. However, Klain stated he did not believe Biden was cognitively unfit to govern.
Klain cooperated with investigators, answering questions voluntarily, unlike several aides who invoked the Fifth Amendment. He confirmed a personal donation of $5,000 to Hunter Biden’s legal fund at the request of Hunter Biden’s counsel.
Further reporting indicated that after the June debate, Biden skipped a crucial meeting with progressive caucus members for a photoshoot at Camp David, choosing not to engage with lawmakers who might have aided his campaign.
Public Backlash and Family Response
The Biden family has strongly opposed the books’ narratives. Naomi Biden dismissed “Original Sin” as “political fairy smut,” critiquing it as profit-driven sensationalism. Ashley Biden condemned the portrayal of her father’s mental state as “disrespectful and untrue,” suggesting the criticism is politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Republican-led investigative committees in the House and Senate have launched inquiries into potential cover-ups, the use of an autopen for signing key documents, and whether Dr. Kevin O’Connor misrepresented Biden’s physical condition under oath.
Bridging Narratives
Viewed collectively, “2024” and “Original Sin” depict a coordinated effort, with Jill Biden and her inner circle gaining significant influence within the White House as concerns about Joe Biden’s health grew. Through control over messaging, personnel management, and public appearances, she emerged as a political partner and protector, provoking both internal dissent and public scrutiny.
Ron Klain’s recent testimony supports the portrayal of Biden’s declining vigor and challenges decisions that extended his re-election bid despite apparent vulnerabilities. The involvement of family members and increased oversight further contextualize the orchestration described in these books to maintain Biden’s campaign at any cost.
