An unnamed former Biden campaign staffer has sharply blamed Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection decision for helping pave the way for President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, according to a report from New York Magazine cited by Fox News.
The former staffer argued that Biden’s choice to seek another term overshadowed what they described as meaningful achievements from his presidency. The criticism comes as Biden’s family and close allies appear to be working publicly to defend his political record and prevent his legacy from being defined only by the 2024 defeat.
The report places Biden’s post-presidency reemergence at the center of a larger Democratic debate: whether the party should embrace his record or distance itself from the political consequences of his final campaign.
According to the report, Biden appeared on June 5 at the South Dakota Democratic Party’s McGovern Day Dinner in Sioux Falls. The event reportedly drew about 1,200 Democrats to a Best Western near the airport.
At the event, the 83-year-old former president criticized Trump and told the audience he needed to leave early for his goddaughter’s wedding. Biden also said his quick exit from the stage was not because he feared the crowd’s reaction.
New York Magazine described Biden’s delivery as quiet at times, forceful at others, and occasionally unfocused. Still, the Democratic audience reportedly gave him a warm reception.
Biden Attacks Trump While Allies Defend His Legacy
During the South Dakota appearance, Biden described Trump as the most corrupt president in U.S. history, according to the report.
The event was presented as part of a broader effort by Biden’s family and inner circle to reframe how the public remembers his presidency. Rather than allowing the 2024 loss to dominate the conversation, his allies appear focused on highlighting what they view as his accomplishments in office.
That push has created tension inside Democratic circles. Some Biden allies see a growing willingness to remember his presidency more favorably. Others believe putting him back in the spotlight could reopen wounds from the 2024 campaign.
Rufus Gifford, who served as Biden’s campaign finance chair and now chairs the board for Biden’s presidential library, told New York Magazine that Democrats are gradually moving beyond the 2024 election.
Gifford said the party still has not fully resolved the impact of the loss, but he suggested there is less of a political hangover and more nostalgia for what he called normal times.
That view is not shared by everyone. David Axelrod, a longtime adviser to Barack Obama, warned that making Biden highly visible again could remind voters why Democrats wanted him to leave the race.
Axelrod and Vietor Question Biden’s Role in the Party
Axelrod’s warning reflects a wider concern among some Democrats: Biden’s presence may not help the party move forward.
Tommy Vietor, a former Obama spokesman and co-host of “Pod Save America,” also criticized how Biden and his allies have described the aftermath of 2024. Vietor argued that Biden has been framed as the person harmed by others, rather than focusing on the country as the party affected by his choices.
That criticism sharpens the central issue facing Biden’s camp. His allies want to protect his legacy, but critics argue that any public rehabilitation effort must also confront the political cost of his decision to run again.
Jill Biden also returned to the public conversation through her memoir, “View From the East Wing,” released in early June.
The report said former Biden spokesman Andrew Bates questioned why Democrats needed to publicly reopen the painful debate over the 2024 race. Jill Biden responded at an event in Washington, D.C., saying he should call her directly and say it to her face.
Hunter Biden also defended his father in the report, saying critics never truly understood Joe Biden.
Biden Health Announcement Adds Another Layer
The article also notes that Biden’s office announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
That health disclosure adds another layer to Biden’s public reemergence, though the source article does not provide further medical detail beyond the announcement.
It also leaves a key question unresolved: how much influence Biden should have in Democratic politics as the party continues to assess the damage from 2024.
The latest criticism from an ex-Biden staffer shows how deeply Biden hubris remains tied to Democratic frustration over the 2024 election. While Biden’s family and allies are pushing to preserve his legacy, several Democratic voices cited in the report argue that his return to public view could make it harder for the party to move beyond Trump’s comeback.
For now, Biden’s post-presidency role remains contested. His supporters want recognition for his record, while his critics continue to point to the political consequences of his decision to run again.
