$4 MILLION FOR A LOSS?

DONILON’S PAYDAY SPARKS DEBATE

In the wake of President Joe Biden's unsuccessful 2024 re-election campaign, a new book titled Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson reveals that Mike Donilon was paid approximately $4 million for his role in Biden's 2024 re-election campaign. This compensation has ignited significant internal resentment among campaign staff. The unusually high salary, especially in a losing campaign, has raised questions about decision-making at the highest levels of the Biden operation.

Donilon, who has advised Biden since the early 1980s, left his post as White House Senior Advisor in early 2024 to take a central role in the re-election effort. According to sources close to the campaign, Donilon demanded and secured the multi-million dollar deal before making the move, positioning himself as the campaign’s chief strategist.

His pay dwarfed that of other senior officials, including campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, who reportedly earned around $300,000. The disparity caused frustration within the campaign, with staff members reportedly feeling blindsided and demoralized upon learning of Donilon’s compensation, especially since the campaign failed to secure a second term for President Biden.

Beyond his financial arrangement, Donilon played a pivotal role in shaping the campaign’s message and managing public perception of the President’s age and health. Critics inside and outside the campaign have pointed to these issues as key factors in Biden’s electoral loss.

So far, neither Donilon nor President Biden’s team has publicly commented on the salary details or the internal fallout. The revelation adds another layer to the postmortem of the 2024 campaign, as Democratic operatives continue to debate what went wrong—and who bears responsibility.

Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again

Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again (Wikipedia)

Biden top aide made about $4 million on failed campaign (Axios, 5-20-25)

Joe Biden Paid Campaign Adviser So Much, It Outraged Other Staffers (Huffpost, 5-21-25)

New Book Reveals Eye-Popping Salary One Biden Aide Made (The Daily Beast, 5-20-25)