Latest news with #firstLady
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'Intensely loyal' Jill Biden aide despised by White House staffers, new book claims
President Joe Biden's aides consider first lady Jill Biden one of the most powerful first ladies in history, according to the new book, "Original Sin," by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson. By proxy, the first lady's top aide, Anthony Bernal, became one of the most influential people in the White House, Tapper and Thompson said in their new book about Biden's cognitive decline and the administration's alleged cover-up. "He would not be welcome at my funeral," a longtime Biden aide told the authors. Operating in a White House anchored in loyalty, Bernal wielded loyalty as a weapon to weed out the defectors, Tapper and Thompson said. "He considered loyalty to be the defining virtue and would wield that word to elevate some and oust others – at times fairly and at times not. 'Are you a Biden person?' he would ask West Wing aides. 'Is so-and-so a Biden person?' The regular interrogations led some colleagues to dub him the leader of the 'loyalty police,'" the journalists wrote in "Original Sin." During the pandemic, Biden traded the campaign trail for lockdown. Two aides, Bernal and Annie Tomasini, found their way into Joe and Jill Biden's pod, shifting the power dynamic of Biden's so-called "Politiburo," the group of advisors who steered Biden's political orbit. Tapper and Thompson describe the "intensely loyal" duo as taking on an "older-brother-and-little-sister vibe." Thompson even had the title of deputy campaign manager, which Tapper and Thompson said was "unusual for a staffer to a spouse." The duo were the masterminds behind loading a teleprompter for Biden ahead of a local interview, a misstep that followed Biden's campaign. "The significance of Bernal and Tomasini is the degree to which their rise in the Biden White House signaled the success of people whose allegiance was to the Biden family – not to the presidency, not to the American people, not to the country, but to the Biden theology," the authors wrote. Tapper and Thompson said it was difficult to find many Bernal defenders and described him as using his power to cast out "potential heretics." As Bernal earned a reputation for trash-talking fellow aides, "some even described him as the worst person they had ever met," Tapper and Thompson said. Bernal and Tomasini took on some of the residence staffers' roles in the White House. Tapper and Thompson said the aides "had all-time access to the living quarters, with their White House badges reading 'Res' – uncommon for such aides." When the Biden campaign began gearing up for a re-election campaign and some voiced fears about his age or battleground state polling, Bernal and other senior staffers reacted dismissively about Vice President Kamala Harris launching a bid. Bernal is quoted in the book as having said, "You don't run for four years – you run for eight." "He had already begun planning the first lady's 2025 international travel schedule," Tapper and Thompson said. Bernal worked overtime to elevate Jill Biden's "profile and glamour," freely criticizing her looks and outfits and even calling her "Jill," according to the authors. Jill Biden and Bernal worked in tandem, keeping score of "who was with them and against them." The book described the first lady as "one of the chief supporters of the president's decision to run for reelection, and one of the chief deniers of his deterioration." Bernal's loyalty to the Bidens never faltered, and even after the disastrous debate performance in July 2024, Jill Biden and Bernal were determined to keep pushing on through November, Tapper and Thompson said. Fox News Digital has written extensively dating back to the 2020 presidential campaign about Biden's cognitive decline and his inner circle's role in covering it up. A former White House staffer fired back against Tapper and Thompson's allegations about Bernal in a statement to Fox News Digital. "A lot of vignettes in this book are either false, exaggerated, or purposefully omit viewpoints that don't fit the narrative they want to push. Anthony was a strong leader with high standards and a mentor to many. He's the type of person you want on a team - he's incredibly strategic, effective, and cares deeply about the people he manages," the former White House staffer said.
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
First lady Melania Trump unveils new stamp honoring Barbara Bush: 'Her legacy lives on'
First lady Melania Trump hosted a special ceremony this week announcing the latest commemorative stamp honoring the legacy of former first lady Barbara Bush. Mrs. Trump was joined on stage in the East Room of the White House on Thursday by Doro Bush Koch, daughter of Barbara Bush; Alice Yates, CEO of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation; and Judy de Torok, vice president of corporate affairs at the U.S. Postal Service. "Barbara's unwavering conviction, dignity and deep loyalty to her loved ones have left an indelible mark on our hearts and history," said Mrs. Trump. Barbara Bush, wife of 41st President George H. W. Bush, served as first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 and second lady from 1981 to 1989. Members and friends of the Bush family attended along with former Bush White House staffers. The stamp features a portrait of Mrs. Bush by American artist Charles Fagan, who was also in attendance. "The unveiling of this commemorative stamp honors Barbara Bush's contributions as first lady and her enduring impact on our nation," Melania Trump also noted. "May this tribute inspire us to lead with compassion, act with strength, and uphold the values that direct us toward a meaningful existence." The youngest daughter of Barbara and George paid a special tribute to her mother, touching on her personal life, parenting, cause of literacy and dedication to the nation. "Barbara Bush, known to many as mom, Ganny, the Silver Fox, or most famously in our family, the Enforcer, will forever be remembered for her strength, abounding love for family, quick wit, and deep commitment to literacy," said Bush Koch. "[My father was the] only man she would ever kiss at a school dance," their daughter added. "Two years later, she was engaged to George H.W. Bush, beginning a partnership that would span decades and help shape history. Little did she know the adventures ahead." "Mom told her staff she wanted to do something every day to help others, so that's what she did. She scheduled many events and visits that highlighted a need helped encourage volunteerism or focused on literacy," Bush Koch shared. Melania Trump and Bush Koch both highlighted Barbara Bush's 1990 commencement speech at Wellesley College, in which she encouraged graduates to believe in something larger than themselves, to get involved in some of the big ideas of the day. "Barbara Bush's iconic commencement address at Wellesley College in 1990 remains an important moment in the conversation surrounding women's roles in society. Her message, which emphasized the importance of family and personal integrity, encouraged women to carve their own paths in life," said Trump. Bush Koch noted a "defining moment" when her mother cradled an infant with HIV at a time when there was a stigma surrounding the disease. "That simple, compassionate act, captured in a photo that made national headlines, spoke louder than words ever could. Mom was never one to shy away from speaking the truth or taking a stand," said Bush Koch. Mrs. Trump shared that the hallmark of Bush's legacy is not just her respect for tradition but also the ways in which she broke convention. "While she is known for championing literacy, she also supported women's empowerment, changed the national conversation on AIDS, and took a stance supporting gay rights," said the first lady. "Her legacy lives on not only in history books, but in the hearts of everyone she touched. It's unlikely that Mom ever pictured herself on a postage stamp, and it's very likely that she would be wondering what all this fuss is about today," said Bush Koch.
