Imagine a captain steering a ship straight into a storm, oblivious to the dark clouds ahead, while the crew whispers doubts but dares not intervene. That’s the picture painted by a revealing new book about former President Joe Biden’s inner circle, who, despite glaring red flags, clung to the belief that he could weather any political tempest.
According to author Chris Whipple’s latest work, "Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History," Biden’s top aides were trapped in a haze of denial about his cognitive struggles and fading political viability after a disastrous debate performance last summer, the New York Post reported.
This denial wasn’t just a quiet concern—it was a full-blown delusion among some of Biden’s most trusted advisors. Whipple, speaking on Fox News recently, exposed how these aides, including former chief of staff Ron Klain, somehow convinced themselves Biden had triumphed in the debate. How does one watch a sinking ship and call it a victory lap?
The debate itself was nothing short of catastrophic, described by Whipple as a moment that was “lights out, game over” for Biden’s campaign. Democrats, seeing the writing on the wall, eventually replaced him on the presidential ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Whipple’s interviews with Biden’s inner circle reveal a stubborn refusal to face reality, with some staffers insisting the former president could still outmaneuver his opponent. “They believed what they wanted to believe instead of their lying eyes,” Whipple noted on Fox News. That’s not optimism; that’s a dangerous disconnect from the facts on the ground.
Perhaps most telling are the accounts of Biden’s pre-debate preparation at Camp David, where, according to Klain via Whipple, the president seemed utterly detached. “Out of it, he was disengaged,” Whipple relayed, describing how Biden reportedly wandered off to slump into a lounge chair by the pool. If that’s the energy of a leader gearing up for a critical fight, conservatives might wonder what progressive spin could salvage it.
Klain, once a key figure in Biden’s orbit, now finds himself sidelined in what Whipple calls “the doghouse” for spilling these uncomfortable truths. Sharing details of Biden’s mental and physical state during those preparations seems to have cost him favor among loyalists.
Yet Klain didn’t hold back when testifying before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, July 24, 2025, admitting that Biden appeared “less energetic” and struggled with memory issues during his tenure. Notably, Klain was the only former staffer called before the committee who didn’t hide behind Fifth Amendment protections. That’s either bravery or a sign the cracks couldn’t be concealed any longer.
Even more eyebrow-raising is the decision by Biden’s team to skip a cognitive test in February 2024. Aides, still caught in what Whipple dubs a “fog of denial,” were confident he’d pass with flying colors if tested. Confidence is one thing, but ignoring a potential problem that could affect national leadership is quite another.
Whipple himself pushes back against overblown narratives, insisting there’s “no evidence” Biden couldn’t fulfill his duties as commander in chief. But conservatives might argue that even a hint of doubt in a president’s capacity demands more transparency, not less. Why risk the perception of weakness at the highest level?
The author also dismisses exaggerated claims of a grand conspiracy, calling the idea of a “cabal running the country” with a non-functional Biden “just silly.” Fair enough, but when aides ignore clear struggles, it’s not hard to see why skeptics on the right question whether progressive loyalty trumped practical judgment.
Whipple further scoffs at Republican efforts to prove a sinister cover-up, predicting their investigation “goes nowhere.” That may be, but for many on the right, the issue isn’t some shadowy plot—it’s the simple failure to act when the stakes were sky-high.
For conservatives wary of unchecked progressive agendas, this story isn’t just about one man’s decline; it’s about a system that seems too willing to prop up a faltering figurehead. If aides can’t admit the obvious, what else might they overlook in the name of partisan unity?
The saga of Biden’s inner circle, as laid bare by Whipple, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of wishful thinking in politics. While empathy for a leader’s struggles is warranted, the right might argue that national interest must always come before personal or party loyalty. Let’s hope future administrations—on either side—take note and prioritize clarity over comfort.
