Topic: Mike Donilon

During the June presidential debate, CNN's Dana Bash reportedly wrote a note to Jake Tapper stating that Biden had "just lost the election." The book by Tapper and Thompson identifies a small circle of aides—Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Ron Klain, and Bruce Reed—as the "Politburo" who managed Biden's limited schedule and "built the bubble" around him. These individuals are accused of hiding Biden's diminishment from the public and even other cabinet members.

Nancy Pelosi expressed public doubt regarding the authenticity of Joe Biden's withdrawal letter, noting it did not use White House letterhead and didn't "sound like" the President. While Mike Donilon, brother of BlackRock's Tom Donilon, is credited with writing the letter, the lack of formal presidential branding has fueled speculation about the circumstances of Biden's exit from the race.

Rumors suggest that senior advisors and party leaders threatened Joe Biden with the 25th Amendment to force his withdrawal. A report in the SF Gate claimed Governor Gavin Newsom was receiving unanswered phone calls while at the gym during the period Biden was being pressured. The delay between Biden's withdrawal and his endorsement of Harris is cited as evidence of internal party intrigue.