Former Biden Staffer Accuses Administration of Press Manipulation and Bullying Tactics

Former Biden Staffer Accuses Administration of Press Manipulation and Bullying Tactics

Michael LaRosa, a former staff member in the Biden White House, has raised serious allegations against Joe Biden’s team, claiming they engaged in unethical practices to control media narratives. LaRosa, who served as press secretary for Jill Biden, discussed these experiences during a recent interview on The Young Turks with host Cenk Uygur.

LaRosa stated, “They did bully a lot of journalists, and I think they would tell you that now. They wouldn’t have told you at the time.” The former staffer emphasized that the Biden communication team’s approach toward the media was often hostile and suspicious, particularly under the guidance of Anita Dunn, who he described as leading the team in a manner akin to operating “out of a bunker.”

Press Relations Under Scrutiny

This observation raises troubling questions, especially for an administration that positions itself as a defender of democracy. LaRosa pondered why a campaign proclaiming the stakes of democracy would so aggressively discredit any journalist or poll that painted the President in a negative light. “Years ago, I was saying I don’t know why we are… running a re-election campaign, with ‘the democracy is at stake,’ why we are trashing journalism?” he remarked.

He highlighted how, rather than fostering goodwill with the press, the administration instead resorted to negative tactics. “I never understood it because there was so much goodwill that [Joe Biden] had with the media, coming off of Donald Trump,” he reflected.

Unethical Practices Revealed

LaRosa went further, alleging that unethical demands made by the Biden team to journalists dated back to the former president’s 2020 campaign. He claimed the team would only grant interviews under strict conditions, including a process called “quote approval.” LaRosa explained, “There was this thing in Biden world about quote approval; everything had to be on quote approval.”

This process meant that a designated Biden team member would decide what quotes a journalist could use after an interview, effectively allowing the team to control the narrative. Such practices, LaRosa contended, represented a fundamental breach of journalistic integrity.

Manipulating the Narrative

Additionally, LaRosa alleged that younger staff members received training aimed at coercing reporters into asking only approved questions. He said, “You saw them get caught trying to script questions to radio reporters that summer, summer of 2024. It was very reminiscent to me of being on the campaign in 2020.” This scripting of questions raised alarms about journalistic freedoms during the Biden administration.

LaRosa described feeling uncomfortable with these press relations practices. He insisted that his team would never solicit advance questions from journalists. “I said to them, ‘Please never ask the journalist for the questions ahead of time. You can always ask about the topics, but do not ask them for the questions for Dr. Biden,’” he advised, noting a stark contrast between his expectations and those of Biden’s team.

Press Relations Dynamics

LaRosa differentiated between his team’s approach and what he termed “the boys side,” referring to the president’s press team. While he maintained ethical boundaries, he expressed concern that the prevailing tactics on the Biden team harmed the administration’s credibility. “My job was to protect my boss,” LaRosa stated, asserting that coercive practices could only yield detrimental outcomes.

These tactics appeared to bear fruit for Biden in the short term, yet they ultimately harmed his reputation. Particularly, LaRosa pointed to the now-infamous June 27 debate against Donald Trump, which showcased concerns about Biden’s mental acuity and cognitive function.

Ongoing Concerns About Biden’s Mental Acuity

Many White House reporters who covered Biden have since indicated that questions regarding his mental fitness became a contentious issue. One reporter described it as the “third rail” of discussions, where inquiries about Biden’s mental state would land one in the penalty box. Reports indicated that many publications hesitated to explore this central issue until it became unavoidable in the political landscape.

By the end of LaRosa’s tenure, he felt that the administration’s press strategies worsened Biden’s public image. He concluded, “I learned… just how bad their instincts actually are.” Despite the hostile approach taken by Biden’s press team, LaRosa asserted that their relationship with reporters had not improved; it had only declined further.

The Cost of Poor Press Relations

LaRosa claimed that the aggressive tactics employed by the Biden team ultimately did not benefit the administration. Instead of rebuilding the President’s trust and reputation, they achieved the opposite. He articulated, “The president’s reputation, his image, his trust, his approval numbers never got better. There was not any good waves of press that he received.”

In an attempt to counter LaRosa’s claims, a former official from the Biden administration argued that LaRosa’s observations were misguided. They stated, “He gets a lot wrong because he wasn’t really a part of things. The West Wing almost always dealt with his boss.”

Reflections on Media Strategy

Despite the pushback, LaRosa’s revelations highlight critical aspects of how the Biden administration has interacted with the media. The alleged manipulation tactics have sparked broader discussions about transparency and ethical considerations within political communications.

While it is evident that the Biden team faced challenges in managing media narratives, the effectiveness of their strategies remains questionable.

The Biden administration has not publicly responded to LaRosa’s comments, leaving the implications of these allegations open for continued scrutiny. As the political landscape evolves, the relationship between media entities and political figures will undoubtedly remain a focal point.