Unearthed documents reveal a troubling detail about Joe Biden's time in the White House: the former president relied on notecards with photos and bios to identify even the most recognizable figures in American politics and culture.

According to Daily Mail, these cheat-sheets included household names like Hillary Clinton, described as 'the Secretary of State in the Obama-Biden administration,' alongside other prominent figures such as Denzel Washington and Chuck Schumer. The need for such basic reminders raises serious questions about the leadership capacity at the highest level of government.

These cards, some used as recently as January when Biden left office, covered events like the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony, where Clinton and Washington were honored. It’s hard to fathom why a sitting president, with decades in politics, would need a refresher on a former presidential nominee and cabinet member who served alongside him.

High-Profile Names, Low-Profile Memory

Other figures on Biden’s notecards included Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, a longtime family friend, and even chef Jose Andres. If personal connections and cultural icons require a dossier, one has to wonder how detailed briefings on policy or international leaders must have been.

Reportedly first uncovered by Fox News during a probe into National Archive documents, these aids weren’t just for obscure events or distant acquaintances. They were day-to-day tools, suggesting a deeper reliance on staff to navigate even familiar terrain, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in executive decision-making.

A former Biden staffer defended the practice to Fox News, calling it 'standard operating procedure for briefing materials' and asking if staff shouldn’t have informed the president that someone like Schumer was attending an event. While preparation is one thing, needing a photo and bio for a Senate Majority Leader at a judicial nomination celebration feels less like diligence and more like a crutch.

Prepared Questions, Unprepared Leader

Biden’s use of notecards extended beyond identifying people to pre-scripted interactions with the press, including specific questions from reporters like ABC News’ Mary Bruce. One card from an April 2023 event with the South Korean president listed her query on his re-election and public doubts about his age, to which he famously responded, 'Just watch me.'

Yet, with 70 percent of Americans, including many Democrats, unconvinced of his fitness to run again as per polling cited in the question, these pre-selected exchanges paint a picture of a leader more managed than managing. The optics of hand-picked journalists and rehearsed answers don’t scream transparency or vigor.

The White House, when pressed by Fox News, contrasted Biden’s approach with Donald Trump’s unscripted style, with spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stating, 'President Trump gives unfettered access to the media and answers every question imaginable, without pre-screening the press questions.' Whether one agrees or not, the comparison highlights a stark difference in how each navigated public scrutiny.

Political Norms or Personal Failings?

Granted, the use of briefing materials isn’t unique to Biden; politicians often rely on aids during grueling campaign trails to keep track of countless faces. But when notecards are needed for a close colleague like Clinton or a cultural titan like Washington during routine White House duties, it suggests something beyond standard practice.

This isn’t just about memory lapses; it’s about the broader narrative of Biden’s presidency, marked by public gaffes and, ultimately, his withdrawal from a re-election bid amid concerns over mental sharpness. These revelations add fuel to the argument that the administration leaned heavily on props to mask underlying issues.

Even as a former staffer insists this was routine, the specifics—down to photos of pre-selected journalists and prepared questions—tilt the scale toward excessive hand-holding. If the leader of the free world needs a primer on his own circle, it’s fair to ask who was truly steering the ship.

Scrutiny That Won’t Fade

As Biden struggles post-presidency with reported financial burdens, these notecards serve as a lingering symbol of a tenure fraught with doubts about capability. They’re not just paper; they’re a window into an administration that, to many, seemed more curated than commanding.

While progressive defenders might argue this is much ado about nothing, the average American likely finds it unsettling that basic recognition required such scaffolding. It’s a quiet indictment of a system that perhaps prioritized image over substance, leaving taxpayers to wonder about the real cost of such fragility at the top.

These revelations won’t rewrite history, but they do sharpen the lens through which we view Biden’s time in office. In an era where trust in institutions is already thin, stories like this only deepen the skepticism about whether our leaders are up to the task—or just reading from the script.