Biden’s Former Chief Of Staff Privately Roasts Him In Leaked Audio

Ron Klain, the former White House chief of staff, criticized President Joe Biden’s political strategy for focusing too much on long-term infrastructure projects and not enough on the immediate economic needs of Americans as he seeks reelection.

Speaking at an event organized by “Democracy: A Journal of Ideas,” Klain expressed his concerns about Biden’s emphasis on infrastructure. According to an audio recording obtained exclusively by POLITICO, Klain remarked, “I think the president is out there too much talking about bridges. He does two or three events a week where he’s cutting a ribbon on a bridge. And here’s a bridge. Like I tell you, if you go into the grocery store, you go to the grocery store and, you know, eggs and milk are expensive, the fact that there’s a f*cking bridge is not [inaudible].”

Klain served as White House Chief of Staff under President Joe Biden from 2021, onwards. Prior to this role, Klain held various positions in both the public and private sectors. He served as Chief of Staff to Vice Presidents Al Gore and Joe Biden during the Obama administration.

In the audio, Klain acknowledged that the infrastructure projects under the Biden administration were beneficial but argued that the president’s approach was too narrow, overlooking broader economic concerns.

“He’s not a congressman. He’s not running for Congress. I think it’s kind of a fool’s errand. I think that [it] also doesn’t get covered that much because, look, it’s a f*cking bridge. Like it’s a bridge, and how interesting is the bridge? It’s a little interesting but it’s not a lot interesting.”

“The president’s most effective economic message is contrast around whose side are you on, and compassion for the [pinch] of family budgets, and his agenda to bring down costs and raise incomes — and that lauding achievements — especially ones with abstract benefits — is less persuasive with voters,” Klain continued saying.

Klain’s career highlights include serving as Chief of Staff to two Vice Presidents: Al Gore and Joe Biden, during their respective terms. His role often involved managing the day-to-day operations and strategic planning within the Vice President’s office. He was known for his expertise in judicial nominations, having played a significant role in the selection and confirmation processes for several Supreme Court nominees.

In addition to his government service, Klain has also worked in the private sector, including a stint as an executive at Revolution LLC, an investment firm. He’s been involved in various capacities on Democratic presidential campaigns and is respected for his legal acumen, having served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Byron White.

One of Klain’s notable assignments outside of his White House roles was his appointment as the Ebola response coordinator by President Obama in 2014, where he coordinated the U.S. government’s response to the Ebola crisis.

White House Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Communications Adviser Andrew Bates told Politico, “Like Ron says, President Biden is crisscrossing the country building on his State of the Union message, highlighting that he is fighting to grow the middle class and lower costs like prescription drugs while blocking the trickle-down agenda Republican officials have proposed on behalf of rich special interests, including Medicare cuts and tax giveaways to big corporation.”

“The President repeated that message in his Univision interview yesterday and will not let up.”