A bombshell new book reveals Biden White House officials maintained a secret “death-pool roster” of judges who could swear in Kamala Harris if the aging president died in office.
Key Takeaways
- Kamala Harris’ communications director created a “death-pool roster” of judges to swear her in if Biden died, according to the new book “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.”
- White House staff used fluorescent tape as navigational markers on carpets to guide President Biden through events.
- A resident makeup artist was kept on standby at all times to enhance Biden’s appearance before public appearances.
- Democratic National Committee officials held secret talks in 2023 planning for Biden’s potential withdrawal as the party’s nominee.
- Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi reportedly influenced Biden’s decision to step down after his disastrous debate performance.
Secret Planning for Presidential Succession
In a startling revelation from the newly released book “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes detail how the Biden administration made secret preparations for his possible death in office. According to the book, Jamal Simmons, former Harris communications director, created a “death-pool roster” listing federal judges who could swear in Vice President Kamala Harris if President Biden died suddenly. The list was part of a comprehensive succession plan that included a detailed communications strategy.
“Aides to Vice President Kamala Harris constructed a “death-pool roster” of judges who could swear her in if he died, Jonathan Allen of NBC News and Amie Parnes of The Hill wrote in “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.””
The book details how Simmons “never told the vice president about the death-pool roster before leaving her camp in January 2023 but he advised colleagues that he should be notified immediately if something happened to Biden, because he had worked out an entire communications strategy.” Simmons reportedly left the spreadsheet with another Harris aide, ensuring continuity in the planning process. These preparations reflect growing concerns among White House staff about Biden’s health and acuity during his presidency.
Biden’s Declining Physical and Mental State
The book paints a concerning picture of President Biden’s condition while in office. At a reception hosted by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy following Biden’s disastrous debate performance, staff reportedly placed fluorescent tape on the carpet as “colorful bread crumbs” to show “the leader of the free world where to walk.” This incident underscores the extraordinary measures taken to manage the president’s mobility challenges, which were largely hidden from public view.
“At a reception hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy a few days after the debacle, Biden reportedly required florescent tape on the carpet ― “colorful bread crumbs showed the leader of the free world where to walk.””
Even more troubling, the book reveals that a resident makeup artist was always on standby to enhance Biden’s appearance and mask his condition before public appearances. In one telling incident, Biden reportedly failed to recognize Congressman Eric Swalwell during a meeting, further fueling concerns about his cognitive capabilities. After some makeup sessions, the president would cancel all briefings, suggesting these efforts were physically taxing for him.
"Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House" spilled tea on the ex-president's crumbling run for reelection. https://t.co/zTJVxylVo5
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) March 29, 2025
Democratic Party’s Secret Contingency Planning
According to Allen and Parnes, Democratic National Committee officials began holding “hush-hush talks” as early as 2023 to plan for Biden’s potential withdrawal as the party’s presidential nominee. These secret discussions focused on party rules and the implications of various scenarios for Biden stepping down. One official involved in these talks justified the planning by saying, “It shows what we had to do to prepare with the unique circumstances we had, which was an 80-plus-year-old president who was running.”
“Democratic officials staged “hush-hush talks” to plan for Joe Biden’s withdrawal as the party’s presidential nominee as early as 2023, says a new book.”
The book details the high drama surrounding Biden’s eventual decision to step down after his widely criticized debate performance against President Trump. Former President Barack Obama reportedly challenged Biden by asking, “What is your path?” while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also pressured him to withdraw. In what the authors describe as a final act of defiance, Biden endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor, partly to spite the party leaders who had pushed him out. This choice, which bypassed a competitive nomination process, contributed to the Democrats’ eventual loss to Trump in the 2024 election.
“by 2023, Joe Biden’s allies were quietly preparing for … his death in office,” is perhaps the most shocking divulgence.
Questions of Media Complicity and Government Transparency
The revelations in “Fight” raise significant questions about media coverage during the Biden administration and the extent of information withheld from the American public. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck has asked, “I want to know who sanctioned all of this?” criticizing what he characterizes as a coordinated cover-up of Biden’s condition. The book suggests that Biden’s staff, family members, and party officials worked collectively to shield his declining health from public scrutiny for political purposes.
These disclosures come after Biden’s departure from office and President Trump’s 2024 victory, forcing many Americans to reconsider what they were told during the Biden presidency. The full implications of these revelations on public trust in government institutions and media reporting remain to be seen, but they represent a significant chapter in recent political history that continues to unfold even after the conclusion of the 2024 election.
Sources:
- New Biden Book Makes Brutal Claims Of ‘Death-Pool Roster’ And ‘Bread Crumbs’ Trail
- New Biden Book Makes Brutal Claims Of ‘Death-Pool Roster’ And ‘Bread Crumbs’ Trail
- Democrats staged ‘hush-hush talks’ in 2023 for Biden to withdraw from race, says book | Books | The Guardian
- Biden’s allies PLANNED for his death? Revelations from NEW book will shock you
