Biden’s Team Scolded Reporters, Changed His Number After They Called Personal Cellphone: Report

(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

Former President Joe Biden’s aides reportedly changed his number and scolded a New York Times journalist after he called Biden’s personal cellphone while chasing an interview.

The revelation comes in a new book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, Times White House correspondent Tyler Pager and Washington Post correspondent Isaac Arnsdorf.

According to the book, Pager obtained Biden’s personal number and called him directly on March 25, and the former president picked up.

“Biden said he would be willing to speak for this book the next day,” the authors write. The following morning, he again answered the call, briefly offering scathing views of the open weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term.

“I don’t see anything he’s done that’s been productive,” Biden said.

Pressed on whether he regretted stepping away from the 2024 race, Biden added: “No, not now. I don’t spend a lot of time on regrets.” He then ended the call, saying he was running late for a train.

What followed was a rapid clampdown from Biden’s team.

“After the first call,” the authors report, “furious Biden aides repeatedly called and texted [Pager].”

Once the second, even shorter call had taken place, aides stepped in decisively, blocking the journalist’s number and, within 48 hours, cutting off Biden’s line entirely. Those who tried to reach the former president after that were met with a Verizon recording: “The number you dialed has been changed, disconnected, or is no longer in service.”

The incident, while anecdotal, follows claims about Biden’s tightly managed inner circle throughout the 2024 presidential campaign. The writers, reflecting on the interaction, noted the contrast with Trump’s approach, who oftentimes answers direct calls from journalists.