President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden have been branded as ‘inconsiderate, entitled and lousy’ by Politico over the misbehavior of their dogs.
Both dogs made headlines for their violent behavior toward staff – in particular Secret Service agents.
The White House is now giving, one pooch named ‘Commander,’ extra training after being involved in 10 White House and Delaware attacks going back to last year.
While, ‘Major,’ the other dog, was given to family friends in December 2021 – the same month the Biden family got Commander.
The Politico piece titled ‘Don’t Blame the Dog. Blame Biden,’ columnist Matthew Schaffer tore into the First Family.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden have been branded as ‘inconsiderate, entitled and lousy’ by Politico over the misbehavior of their dogs Commander (left) and Major (right)
The White House is now giving Commander extra training after being involved in 10 White House and Delaware attacks going back to last year
‘Having a dog that bites the staff isn’t corrupt,’ Schaffer concludes.
‘What it may well be is inconsiderate and entitled and irresponsible. That’s not the stuff of impeachment, but it’s kinda lousy all the same.’
He claims that the Bidens have a duty as pet owners to keep their employees safe from the dogs.
‘Pets aren’t supposed to bite people, whether those people are guests or postal carriers or neighbors walking past the yard,’ Schaffer writes.
‘Morally — and legally, too — it’s the owner’s job to ensure that this doesn’t happen.’
Schaffer also suggests that the continued leniency toward the pets shows the Bidens benefitting from their elite status.
‘For regular folks, incidents like the ones with Major and Commander would at the very least lead to an unpleasant visit from animal control and a stern message: Get your dog under control.’
‘If Commander had belonged to, say, Nancy Reagan, the Marie Antoinette narrative would have written itself: Look at that entitled elitist, smiling for the cameras while her dog terrorizes the help!’
Schaffer sees it as particularly lousy because President Biden has, for decades, referred to himself as ‘Middle Class Joe.’
‘They’re not plutocrats like the Trumps or intellectuals like the Obamas or aristocrats like the Bushes, all of whom might have been more seriously singed by a news cycle involving their ill-behaved dog attacking employees who then have to worry about the correct way to file injury paperwork,’ he added.
Major was given to family friends in December 2021 – the same month the Bidens got Commander after at least eight bites
Writing in a Politico piece titled ‘Don’t Blame the Dog. Blame Biden,’ columnist Matthew Schaffer said the incidents show an uglier side of the First Family
The writer then suggests that conservatives avoid talking about contradictions in Biden’s persona like these and his feigned ignorance of his seventh grandchild – whom he finally acknowledged in recent weeks – versus his behavior in favor of what he refers to as ‘conspiracies’ regarding the president’s son, Hunter.
‘If you’re out to malign Biden, that convoluted conspiracy-theory stuff is an awfully long walk for a glass of water,’ Schaffer writes.
Emails obtained by Judicial Watch show Secret Service agents discussing the incidents – including Commander biting seven people in the last four months.
One agent was sent to a local hospital after the 22-month-old Commander bit them on the arm and leg, and one was attacked when Biden let him off his leash.
The agent also had to use a steel shield to fend him off from another attack.
Officers called the dog ‘freaking crazy’, argued he would have been ‘put down’ if he didn’t belong to the Bidens and said he needed a muzzle.
On November 10, 2022, Jill Biden ‘couldn’t regain control’ of Commander as the dog charged another member of the Secret Service.
The same month, the German Shepherd clamped down on an agent’s arm, resulting in him needing to seek medical treatment.
Schaffer suggests that the continued leniency toward the pets shows the Bidens benefitting from their elite status
Emails obtained by Judicial Watch show Secret Service agents discussing the incidents – including Commander biting seven people in the last four months
Other scary incidents detailed in the emails were when Commander was off of his leash roaming the White House grounds.
The Bidens welcomed Commander to the executive residence as a puppy in December 2021. He was a birthday gift to President Biden from his brother James and sister-in-law Sara.
Revelations of the German Shepherd’s behavior issues and aggression isn’t the first time a White House pet has sparked safety concerns.
Another one of the Bidens’ German Shepherds, Major, who also bit staff and Secret Service agents, was moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021 and re-homed with ‘family friends’.
A November 10, 2022 incident report from a USSS White House Division Officer notes that Commander ‘bit me on my left thigh and then ran back toward the First Lady.’
‘I went to the White House Medical Unit to get the injury examined by a professional,’ they added in the redacted email obtained by JW. ‘I am currently experiencing bruising, tenderness, and pain in the bite area.’
According to another email sent on November 3, 2022, a Secret Service agent wrote to colleagues: ‘Commander bite [sic] UD [Uniform Division] officer [redacted] at post [redacted] two times, one time in the upper right arm and a second bite on the officer’s thigh. WH [White House] medical treated the officer and made the decision to have [redacted] transported to [redacted] Hospital’.
Later that day, a Uniform Division captain said Commander was up to date on all its vaccines.
The next day another email elaborated on what happened: ‘Officer [redacted] advised that ‘Commander’ came down the stairs and walked toward [redacted].
‘Officer [redacted] advised [redacted] was sitting with [redacted] arms crossed and Commander bite [sic] [redacted] arm (tricep area) then when [redacted] stood up Commander bite [sic] in the leg (quad area).
‘Officer [redacted] stated that the usher did not control the dog and was telling Officer [redacted] to not back up.
‘Officer [redacted] advised that Commander came after [redacted] again and [redacted] had to use a steel cart to sheild [sic] [redacted] self from another attack. Officer [redacted] advised [redacted] was in a considerable amount of pain.’
The agent was then put on restricted duty for three days on advice from doctors.
The White House is now giving Biden’s younger dog extra training after being involved in 10 White House and Delaware attacks in recent months
Biden has now had three German Shepherds as first pets during his presidency. Champ, whom Biden is petting above, passed in June 2021. Major (on left) also bit staff and Secret Service agents and re-homed with ‘family friends’ in 2021. The Bidens then adopted Commander, another German Shepherd
A Uniformed Division officer then emailed the attack victim on November 5, 2022, to ask how he was doing and called Commander ‘stupid’.
‘Doing alright [redacted]? That’s freaking crazy that stupid dog – rolling my eyes [redacted].’
The victim replies: ‘My leg and arm still hurts. He bit me twice and ran at me twice.’
One month later, an officer with the Uniformed Division sent an email with the subject line: ‘Matters of Extreme Concern,’ and noted that the group of those attacked or feeling threatened by Commander needed to ‘address the issue ASAP collectively.’
In October 2022, a Uniformed Division officer wrote to colleagues: ‘Commander has been exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior.
‘Today, while posted, he came charging at me. The First Lady couldn’t regain control of commander [sic] and he continued to circle me. I believe it’s only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit.’
He would have bit me today if I didn’t step towards him a couple different times. It was bad enough that the agent on the detail asked if I got bit – just so you’re aware.
The colleague says: ‘What a joke [redacted] – if it wasn’t their dog he would already have been put down – freaking clown needs a muzzle – hope you get to feeling better [redacted].’
Then on December 11, 2022, a Secret Service Special Agent in the Presidential Protective Division was attacked after Biden apparently let the dog off the leash.
‘The injuries included a bite to the left forearm resulting in bruising and approximately a 1 ½ cm cut and a bite to the right hand on the thumb resulting a 1 cm cut. I received treatment from White House Medical from LTC [redacted]. The injuries were [redacted] and I returned to work the rest of my shift.’
The first couple welcomed Commander to the White House as a puppy in December 2021
Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service chief of communications, told DailyMail.com: ‘For the past several Presidential administrations, the Secret Services has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception.
‘We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously. Agency employees are encouraged to report any job-related injuries to their immediate supervisors for appropriate documentation. As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets. These instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, including relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed.’
‘While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets.’
In a statement on the incident, first lady Jill Biden’s communications director Elizabeth Alexander said: ‘The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone.
‘They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise,’ she added.
‘According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed.
‘The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe.’
