Two new investigative books, “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America” by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, published on July 8, 2025, and “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, released on May 20, 2025, shed light on the pivotal role First Lady Jill Biden played in shaping communications and staffing decisions during the final months of her husband’s presidency.
The books highlight Jill Biden’s increasing involvement as President Biden’s cognitive difficulties became more apparent, particularly after a challenging debate performance in late June 2024. Jill Biden took on a more prominent leadership role, exerting her influence through trusted aides such as Anthony Bernal, her chief of staff, and Annie Tomasini, her deputy chief. She managed access, messaging, and even hiring decisions, with some aides being labeled as the White House “loyalty police.”
A notable incident in “Original Sin” describes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro being interrupted by Dr. Biden during a discussion about polling concerns after the debate, with her stating, “We gotta go.” The book portrays Jill Biden as both a proponent of Biden’s decision to seek a second term and a denier of his declining health, often criticizing staff privately while defending the president publicly.
In “2024,” Dawsey and his co-authors note Jill Biden’s unexpected attendance at Hunter Biden’s federal trial in June 2024, where she traveled to France for D-Day ceremonies and returned within 24 hours, surprising West Wing staff and demonstrating her autonomy. Both books mention a strict prohibition on discussing Hunter’s legal issues, enforced by Jill Biden’s team to manage public perception.
The authors reveal internal conflicts, including clashes between Bernal and seasoned strategist Anita Dunn over Dunn’s advocacy for increased transparency regarding the family’s legal challenges and greater media access.
New Testimony and Investigations
Former Chief of Staff Ron Klain’s recent testimony has reinforced these accounts. In July 2025, Klain informed the House Oversight Committee that Biden was seen as “less energetic” and experienced memory issues, and was considered “not politically viable” by senior figures, including Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan, during 2024. However, Klain maintained he did not believe the president was unfit for office.
Klain cooperated with investigators, answering all inquiries voluntarily, unlike several aides who invoked the Fifth Amendment. He acknowledged a personal $5,000 contribution to Hunter Biden’s legal fund at the request of Hunter’s lawyer.
Further reports indicated that after the June debate, Biden chose to attend a photoshoot at Camp David instead of a critical meeting with progressive caucus members, avoiding engagement with lawmakers who could have aided his campaign.
Public Backlash and Family Response
The Biden family has strongly disputed these narratives. Naomi Biden called “Original Sin” “political fairy smut,” dismissing it as sensationalism driven by profit. Ashley Biden criticized the depiction of her father’s mental state as “disrespectful and untrue,” attributing the criticism to political motivations.
Meanwhile, Republican-led investigative committees in both the House and Senate have launched inquiries into possible cover-ups, the use of an autopen for signing important documents, and whether Dr. Kevin O’Connor misrepresented Biden’s physical condition under oath.
Bridging Narratives
Collectively, “2024” and “Original Sin” depict a coordinated narrative: Jill Biden, through her inner circle, assumed significant influence in White House operations as concerns about the former president’s health grew. She managed messaging, personnel decisions, and public appearances, becoming a key political ally and defender, drawing both internal dissent and public scrutiny.
Ron Klain’s recent testimony corroborates the portrayal of Biden’s waning energy and challenges the timeline and internal choices that prolonged his re-election campaign despite apparent vulnerabilities. The pressure on family members and intensifying oversight offer further context to what these books describe as a deliberate effort to keep Biden in the race at all costs.