Aides to Former President Joe Biden Changed His Personal Number After Interview Attempt
A recent account from a book highlights an unusual incident involving former President Joe Biden and a reporter attempting to secure an interview. According to the authors of How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, Tyler Pager of The New York Times, Isaac Arnsdorf of The Washington Post, and Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, there was a notable reaction from Biden’s team after a phone call with the former president.
In late March, Pager managed to reach Biden on his personal cellphone number. During the conversation, Biden expressed willingness to speak for the book the following day. The next morning, he answered the call and shared his views on his predecessor and successor, former President Donald Trump.
“I don’t see anything he’s done that’s been productive,” Biden said. When asked about his decision to end his 2024 re-election campaign, he responded, “No, not now. I don’t spend a lot of time on regrets.” Shortly after, he hung up as he was boarding an Amtrak train.
The situation escalated quickly when Biden’s aides contacted Pager repeatedly. The authors noted that the former president’s team was furious and reached out through both calls and text messages. They even blocked Pager’s number and removed Biden’s personal number from service within two days. Eventually, when others tried to contact the president, they were met with a Verizon recording stating, “The number you dialed has been changed, disconnected, or is no longer in service.”
This event comes amid reports that Biden maintained a tightly controlled inner circle during his presidency and throughout the 2024 campaign. In contrast, former President Trump is known for his more relaxed approach and often takes calls from journalists.
Pager detailed his experience in an article published by The New York Times, which was adapted from the book. He described how, despite multiple attempts to secure an interview with Biden, his aides claimed the former president was working on a memoir that would conflict with the book. One aide reportedly became very angry with him.
“Others texted furiously, trying to figure out how I had obtained Mr. Biden’s phone number,” Pager wrote. His follow-up calls were directed to a voicemail that simply said, “Joe,” before the number was taken out of service.
The incident underscores the challenges reporters face when trying to access high-profile political figures. It also highlights the importance of maintaining control over personal communications, especially for individuals in the public eye. As the political landscape continues to evolve, such incidents serve as reminders of the delicate balance between public access and private security.
For those interested in staying informed about current events and policy discussions, engaging with reliable news sources remains essential. Understanding the dynamics of political communication can provide valuable insights into how decisions are made and how information is disseminated.
