The relationship between President Joe Biden and his Secret Service detail has been fraught with tension, dating back to his tenure as vice president. This strained relationship has been exacerbated by recent incidents involving the president’s dogs biting several agents.
The friction between Biden and his Secret Service detail is not a new development. It can be traced back to his time as Vice President when he reportedly made female agents uncomfortable by swimming nude in his pool.
This habit, revealed in Ronald Kessler’s book, “The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents,” was deemed offensive by female agents.
How can President Trump get a random dog to respect him from hundreds of miles away but Joe Biden couldn’t discipline his own dog enough to prevent him from getting kicked out the White House for biting Secret Service? pic.twitter.com/HRmBnCppdr
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 6, 2023
Adding to the agents’ frustration is Biden’s unpredictable schedule and frequent trips to his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
The president’s spontaneous decisions to return to Wilmington, often more than once a week, left agents unable to plan their lives or arrange social occasions. This lack of predictability led some agents to consider duty under Biden as the ‘second worst assignment,’ with Hillary Clinton’s detail taking the top spot.
The tension escalated when Biden’s German Shepherds, Champ and Major, began displaying aggressive behavior. Major was so aggressive he had to be rehomed to friends in Delaware due to concerns about potential lawsuits for injuries.
The newer dog, Commander, has bitten at least a dozen Secret Service agents, leading to him being moved off campus to an undisclosed location.
Despite these incidents, the Biden administration has defended the dogs. Jill Biden’s office has noted the White House can be a stressful environment for family pets and that they are working on ways to help Commander handle the unpredictable nature of the White House grounds.
However, a former White House official who interacted with both dogs told Axios that the first family and their inner circle refuse to engage in problem-solving discussions to protect the agents and Executive Residence staff.
It’s a sickening seeing “president” Biden frustrated and kicking his dog, ‘Commander’ in the head. We know WHY Commander bites Secret Service Agents and White House staff.
The Bidens should NEVER own another dog. pic.twitter.com/MvTmIq9rsh
— Robert Hyde for US Senate (@HydeforSenate) October 6, 2023
The tension between the Bidens and their Secret Service detail is not just one-sided. The Bidens are also said to be suspicious of their agents, many of whom they suspect supported Donald Trump.
This mistrust can be problematic given the close quarters in which they operate, often overhearing private conversations and witnessing private moments.
The recent dog-biting incidents have only served to heighten the tension. Commander, a birthday gift to the president from his brother and sister-in-law, first came to the White House on December 20, 2021.
His biting record was released in July when a conservative group used a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain emails from Secret Service officials.
