The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that U.S. President Joe Biden regularly consults with his old political friends before making important decisions and does not fully trust the recommendations of White House advisors. The newspaper stated, "This underscores an important reality behind Biden's decision-making process: no one does he trust more than seasoned politicians." According to the newspaper's sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, one of the latest examples of such behavior from Biden was the U.S. agreement with Venezuela at the end of 2023, which involved the mutual release of about 30 individuals. After discussions within the White House, including with Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, and reassurances that the deal was possible, Biden called his old friend, Senator Chris Coons, to seek his support before agreeing to the deal.
The paper noted that "Biden's team has enough experience and knowledge, but when faced with a difficult decision, Biden hesitates to take the final step until he speaks with someone he knows closely. Meanwhile, the U.S. president often asks his interlocutors about how voters might react to the decisions he has to make." The Washington Post highlighted that this stems from Biden's numerous election campaigns during his time in the Senate, which is why the president instinctively trusts those who also had to persuade voters, calm crowds, debate opponents, and face the consequences of poor decisions.
It was also pointed out that Biden's desire to rely on the opinions of politicians and consult with them has faced criticism, as these individuals have similar experiences in Congress and view the world in the same way the president does, meaning they cannot offer him new ideas. Additionally, this practice suggests a hesitation from the American leader, which hinders him in crises, according to the same sources.
