Newly surfaced palm cards from the Biden era reveal that during public appearances, the White House prepared small note cards containing names, photos, and brief biographies of prominent Democrats—among them Hillary Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The cards, typically used to cue or remind speakers of names and remarks, include stamps reading “PRESIDENT HAS SEEN” on most of them. One card listed Medal of Freedom recipients with photos and bios, including Clinton, Denzel Washington, and chef José Andrés.
Another note card focused on legislative milestones and featured images of Schumer and Senator Dick Durbin along with their official roles. One card was dedicated to questions from an ABC reporter that had been pre-written in advance.
While it’s unclear whether President Biden directly consulted each card during speeches, the documents underscore how events were meticulously scripted—and how aides sought to ensure he could correctly identify key individuals while under public scrutiny.