Wafric News – May 8, 2025

Former U.S. President Joe Biden is taking decisive steps to shape his post-presidency image, hiring a seasoned political strategist as the heat intensifies from both political opponents and members of his own party.

Biden has enlisted Chris Meagher, a trusted former deputy press secretary and communications advisor at the Pentagon, to help steer his public narrative at a time when many Democrats believe it’s time for the 81-year-old leader to step aside. The move signals Biden’s refusal to quietly retreat and his intent to remain a vocal figure as Donald Trump settles into his second term.

Sources close to Biden’s inner circle confirmed that Meagher played a key role in arranging Biden’s live appearance on The View—his first live interview since leaving office—marking the beginning of a more public-facing chapter of his post-presidency.

The decision to re-engage publicly comes at a sensitive time. Biden continues to face scrutiny for staying in the 2024 race longer than some Democrats felt was wise. Meanwhile, Trump-aligned forces are preparing to release audio recordings of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur—an investigation into his handling of classified documents that also questioned his memory. While the transcript is already public, Biden’s allies worry that the release of the audio could be weaponized to depict him as unfit, prompting the strategic hiring of Meagher to manage the fallout.

With his longtime aide Kelly Scully soon leaving her role as his official spokesperson, Biden is moving quickly to ensure his voice remains in the national conversation.

“This isn’t a man looking to fade away quietly,” one Democratic insider told Wafric News. “This is a president who still believes he has something to say—and defend.”

Biden’s upcoming appearance on The View is timed strategically, breaking the traditional 100-day period during which former presidents refrain from public criticism of successors. Biden is expected to confront Trump’s policies head-on, continuing the confrontational tone he struck in a recent BBC interview. There, he slammed Trump’s approach to Ukraine, calling it “modern-day appeasement,” and warned of the dangers of a weakened NATO.

Yet, not all Democrats are convinced that Biden’s reemergence is helpful.

“There’s a hunger for new leadership,” said one Democratic operative, speaking anonymously. “Instead of a rearview defense, we need a forward-looking message—and right now, Biden’s return feels out of step.”

The pushback comes amid anticipation for a controversial new book, Original Sin, by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson. The book reportedly delivers a scathing behind-the-scenes look at Biden’s decision to remain in the 2024 race despite internal concerns about his cognitive decline. Meagher has already slammed the book’s premise, calling it misleading and politically motivated.

Still, Biden’s defenders remain firm. Ashley Etienne, a former senior advisor to both Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, called Biden’s renewed presence “essential.”

“We need Biden’s voice,” she said. “This is no time for silence—not with the direction Trump is taking the country.”

Beyond media strategy, Meagher is also expected to assist with Biden’s upcoming memoir and the establishment of his presidential foundation and library—projects that will shape how future generations interpret his time in office.

As Republicans prepare to amplify old criticisms and as internal Democratic tensions linger, Biden is betting that a strategic communications push will protect his legacy—and perhaps even reshape the narrative around his final months in power.


By WafricNews Desk.