It Wasn’t Biden’s White House, Joe Wasn’t In Charge, ‘Politburo’ Ran Things [WATCH]

A new book by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and journalist Alex Thompson alleges that a small inner circle of political operatives and family members—dubbed the “politburo”—exerted significant control over the White House during Joe Biden’s presidency, particularly as the former president’s mental and physical health reportedly declined.

Here are the ‘politburo’ members who were really running the Biden White House, according to ‘Original Sin’ authors

The more I learn, the more pissed I get.

A small, tight-knit group in former President Joe Biden’s inner circle was running the White House like a “politburo,”… pic.twitter.com/kMBonGwidT

— NWRain-Judi (@RYboating) May 25, 2025

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The book, titled Original Sin, claims that this group effectively operated as the true leadership behind the scenes, shaping policy, managing communications, and at times shielding Biden from staff, the cabinet, and the public.

The core group included longtime political allies Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, and Ron Klain, as well as Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, and son, Hunter Biden.

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“In terms of who was running the White House, it’s a small group of people that have been around,” Thompson said in an interview on PBS’ Washington Week.

“Some people within the administration called them the Politburo.”

According to the authors, the term was adopted inside the administration itself to describe how centralized and exclusive decision-making had become.

The label refers to the executive committee in communist systems where authority is concentrated among a few elite members.

Jake Tapper clarified that while Biden himself was involved in decisions, he was often surrounded by and reliant on the small group.

“Joe Biden is not like—it’s not Weekend at Bernie’s, right? He has some purchase here. He has some agency,” Tapper said.

“But he’s aware of the fact that they are keeping the cabinet away from him, they are keeping some White House staffers away from him.”

Among the most powerful players in this group was Mike Donilon, a longtime Biden adviser who reportedly earned $4 million during the 2024 campaign.

“The president valued Mike Donilon’s advice so much that aides would later joke that if he wanted, he could get Biden to start a war,” the book states.

Steve Ricchetti, a counselor to the president, also held significant influence.

A former deputy chief of staff in the Clinton White House, Ricchetti helped oversee legislative negotiations and allegedly took direct steps to combat media reports about Biden’s health, including personally calling a reporter to challenge coverage.

The book recounts Ricchetti’s fury after actor George Clooney published an op-ed calling on Biden to leave the race, describing his reaction as similar to that of a “mob boss.”

Bruce Reed, deputy chief of staff for policy, was portrayed as the actual head of domestic policy, despite official titles. He helped prepare Biden for the widely criticized debate with President Trump.

Former chief of staff Ron Klain, who officially left the White House in February 2023, was said to have remained influential even after his departure.

A source familiar with internal operations stated, “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.”

The book also highlights the roles of Jill and Hunter Biden. Jill Biden, once described as a reluctant political spouse, became more assertive in the administration, often stepping in to protect her husband from public gaffes and micromanaging staff interactions.

Hunter Biden reportedly urged his father not to drop out of the 2024 race, even as his own legal troubles and personal issues weighed on the former president.

“To understand Joe Biden’s deterioration, top aides told us, one has to know Hunter’s struggles,” the authors write.

Former President Barack Obama is cited in the book as having warned against some of Biden’s close associates and advising campaign staff in 2020 that “I don’t want him to be humiliated.”

Former Obama officials also observed that Biden’s governing style was markedly different, relying more on a tight circle than broader staff deliberations.

An anonymous cabinet secretary reportedly told the authors, “I’ve never seen a situation like this before, with so few people having so much power. They would make huge economic decisions without calling [Treasury] Secretary Yellen.”

The book also reveals that family ties extended into the administration’s hiring practices.

Donilon’s niece reportedly served on the National Security Council, Reed’s daughter was a scheduler for the president, and Ricchetti’s children were employed in various federal roles.

While the White House and Biden’s allies have disputed many claims in the book, Thompson stated that he “had stopped believing their denials for a while” after hearing repeated contradictions.

Original Sin was released last Tuesday.

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