Young staffer posted Biden’s 2024 exit letter, book claims

Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign imploded with a single social media post. On July 21, 2024, the former president shocked his team by announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race via a letter shared online. A new book reveals the chaotic scramble behind this bombshell, orchestrated by a small circle of loyalists and a 24-year-old digital staffer.

Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 race, detailed in “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,” caught his campaign off guard. The announcement, posted at 1:46 p.m. on a Sunday, followed hours of frenzied coordination among a tight-knit team. This wasn’t the polished exit of a seasoned politician but a last-minute pivot that left staffers reeling.

Early that morning, Biden and Jill Biden began making calls to key figures. They informed Vice President Kamala Harris and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon of the decision. Dillon, reportedly emotional, immediately tasked Deputy Rob Flaherty with preparing the public rollout.

Campaign Chaos Unfolds Swiftly

Flaherty, hiking in Wilmington’s Alapocas Run State Park, missed Dillon’s urgent call. He and his wife, Carla Frank, were casually debating Biden’s campaign struggles when he noticed the message. Dillon’s words—“In forty-five minutes, we’re going to post a letter”—sent Flaherty into a sprint to find a computer.

Flaherty, despite overseeing digital efforts, lacked direct access to Biden’s social media accounts. He called Parker Butler, a 24-year-old staffer, to handle the critical post. “Are you near a computer?” Flaherty asked, demanding the letter be shared on Twitter and Instagram in under an hour.

While Flaherty and his wife raced out of the park via Uber, Dillon sent the letter at 1:35 p.m. Flaherty forwarded it to Butler, who prepared to post it. The campaign’s reliance on a junior staffer for such a pivotal moment raises eyebrows about its digital strategy.

Staff Blindsided by Decision

At 1:45 p.m., senior staff received a Zoom invite to discuss Biden’s exit. Many, including top official Anita Dunn, learned of the decision during the meeting. Biden, camera off, solemnly confirmed he would not seek reelection, leaving his team stunned.

Butler posted the letter at 1:46 p.m., precisely on schedule. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote, stepping back to focus on his remaining term. The letter’s measured tone belied the backstage pandemonium.

Biden’s words about standing down for “party and country” sound noble but dodge the messier reality. His campaign was floundering, and this exit felt like a desperate bid to salvage Democratic chances. Yet the lack of a clear succession plan sowed further confusion.

Letter Sparks Immediate Fallout

Biden’s letter omitted an endorsement of Kamala Harris, a curious choice given her role as vice president. A follow-up X post soon voiced support for her, but the initial silence fueled speculation. Was this a snub or just poor planning?

The book, authored by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, hit shelves on Tuesday, exposing these behind-the-scenes details. Biden’s office, tellingly, offered no comment when pressed by Fox News Digital. Their silence speaks louder than any press release could.

The campaign’s reliance on a young staffer like Butler highlights a broader issue: Democrats’ obsession with social media optics over substance. Entrusting a 24-year-old with a history-making post isn’t “empowering” youth—it’s a sign of disarray. Conservatives, by contrast, prioritize message discipline over viral moments.

Lessons From a Hasty Exit

Biden’s team had mere hours to execute a decision that reshaped the 2024 race. The Zoom call, the Uber dash, the last-minute letter—all paint a picture of a campaign caught flat-footed. This wasn’t leadership; it was crisis management masquerading as strategy.

The book’s account, while gripping, underscores a deeper failure of the progressive machine. Biden’s exit, framed as selfless, reeks of political expediency amid sinking polls and internal strife. MAGA supporters see this as proof of Democratic weakness—strong on tweets, weak on vision.

Ultimately, Biden’s withdrawal saga is a cautionary tale of a party adrift. Handing the keys to a social media “whiz” might thrill the woke crowd, but it’s no substitute for principled governance. As conservatives rally behind clear ideals, Democrats’ digital fumbles only widen the gap.