(Axios) President Biden has introduced a change to his White House departure and return routine. Instead of walking across the South Lawn to and from Marine One by himself, he’s now often surrounded by aides.
Why it matters: With aides walking between Biden and journalists’ camera position outside the White House, the visual effect is to draw less attention to the 81-year-old’s halting and stiff gait.
Zoom in: Some Biden advisers have told Axios they’re concerned that videos of Biden walking and shuffling alone — especially across the grass — have highlighted his age.
- Weeks ago the president told aides that he’d prefer a less formal approach, a White House official told Axios. He suggested that they walk with him.
White House staffers and reporters alike noticed the sudden change in Biden’s walk routine beginning in mid-April, after more than three years in which he’d typically walked solo.
- Senior aides such as deputy chiefs of staff Bruce Reed and Annie Tomasini and close adviser Mike Donilon are among those who’ve walked with the president across the lawn to and from the helicopter.
- Since the change, some advisers think the images of Biden’s walks to and from the helicopter are better, and they expect him to continue to have aides join him.
By the numbers: In March, Biden’s five walks to and from Marine One at the White House were by himself, or with family members.
- Starting April 16, Biden was joined by staff or lawmakers nine out of 10 times he walked to and from Marine One.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates played down the significance of aides partially obscuring cameras’ view of Biden during the walks.
- “He’s fully visible except for a few seconds,” Bates said. “Impeach.”
The big picture: Biden’s team has focused on changing voters’ perceptions about his age in recent months.
- Biden has been talking about it more openly in public events and in a campaign ad last month.
The White House also has taken steps to prevent the president from tripping, as he did last summer on a stage at the Air Force Academy.
- Biden increasingly has worn shoes with extra support, including a pair of black Hoka sneakers.
