New Book: Biden Allies Secretly Planned for His Death

Signs pointing to "Lies" and "Truth" against sky.

A new book reveals that Vice President Kamala Harris’s team secretly prepared a “death-pool roster” of judges who could swear her in, should President Biden die while in office, exposing the extraordinary behind-the-scenes planning for presidential mortality.

Quick Takes

Harris’s former communications director created a “death-pool roster” of judges and a communications strategy in case Biden died in office
White House staff used fluorescent tape as “bread crumbs” to guide Biden where to walk during public events
A resident makeup artist was reportedly on constant standby to enhance Biden’s appearance
Democratic officials held secret talks as early as 2023 to plan for Biden’s potential withdrawal as nominee
Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race

Secret Contingency Plans for Presidential Mortality

In the explosive new book “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes reveal that Kamala Harris’s team was actively preparing for the possibility of Joe Biden’s death while in office. Jamal Simmons, Harris’s former communications director, created a “death-pool roster” of judges who could swear her in as president if Biden died suddenly. The revelations highlight the significant concerns about Biden’s health and mortality that existed within his own administration long before his failed re-election campaign.

“Aides to Vice President Kamala Harris constructed a ‘death-pool roster’ of judges who could swear her in if he died, Jonathan Allen of NBC News and Amie Parnes of The Hill wrote in ‘Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.'”

According to the book, Simmons “never told the vice president about the death-pool roster before leaving her camp in January 2023 but he advised colleagues that he should be notified immediately if something happened to Biden, because he had worked out an entire communications strategy.” This preparation extended to leaving a spreadsheet of potential judges with another Harris aide, indicating the seriousness with which some in the administration viewed the possibility of presidential succession due to Biden’s advanced age.

Physical Decline and Visual Aids

Among the most startling revelations are details of how White House staff managed Biden’s physical limitations. Following his disastrous debate performance, Biden reportedly required fluorescent tape on the carpet at a reception hosted by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. These visual aids were described in the book as “colorful bread crumbs” that “showed the leader of the free world where to walk.” The account paints a picture of a president whose physical navigation required significant assistance, raising questions about his fitness for office.

“At a reception hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy a few days after the debacle, Biden reportedly required florescent tape on the carpet ― ‘colorful bread crumbs showed the leader of the free world where to walk.'”

The book also reveals that a resident makeup artist was constantly on hand to enhance Biden’s appearance and mask signs of aging or fatigue. In some instances, Biden would reportedly cancel all briefings after undergoing these makeup sessions. Another concerning incident described in the book involves Biden failing to recognize Representative Eric Swalwell during a meeting, further fueling concerns about his cognitive abilities that were dismissed by his administration at the time.

"Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House" spilled tea on the ex-president's crumbling run for reelection. https://t.co/zTJVxylVo5

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) March 29, 2025

Democratic Party’s Secret Planning

The Democratic establishment was apparently well aware of Biden’s limitations long before his withdrawal from the 2024 race. The book reveals that Democratic National Committee officials began engaging in “hush-hush talks” as early as 2023 to plan for the possibility of Biden withdrawing his candidacy. These discussions included examining party rules and various scenarios for managing such a transition, showing the party leadership’s early recognition of potential problems with Biden’s candidacy.

One official involved in these secret talks is quoted as saying: “It shows what we had to do to prepare with the unique circumstances we had, which was an 80-plus-year-old president who was running.” The quote highlights how Biden’s age was a significant concern for party officials long before it became a public issue in the 2024 election cycle. Despite these concerns, Biden initially pushed forward with his re-election bid, supported by family members and close aides.

The Final Act: Biden’s Withdrawal and Endorsement

The book provides extensive details about the events leading to Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race following his poor debate performance against President Trump. Former President Barack Obama reportedly played a significant role in these events, asking Harris the pivotal question: “What is your path?” The authors describe how Nancy Pelosi and Obama were instrumental in convincing Biden to step down, though in what some describe as a final act of defiance, Biden chose to endorse Harris despite knowing this was not their preferred outcome.

“by 2023, Joe Biden’s allies were quietly preparing for … his death in office,” is perhaps the most shocking divulgence.

These revelations raise serious questions about who authorized these contingency plans and why American voters weren’t made aware of these concerns before the 2020 election. The book portrays an administration that was actively preparing for presidential mortality while publicly dismissing questions about Biden’s fitness for office. In the aftermath of Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s subsequent loss to President Trump, these accounts provide unprecedented insight into the extraordinary measures taken behind closed doors during Biden’s truncated presidency.