Alina Habba, a prominent legal spokesperson and advisor to Donald Trump, recently made waves by exposing what she refers to as President Joe Biden’s “fake Oval Office.” This claim has reignited discussions about transparency in the Biden administration and the extent to which political staging influences public perception. Habba and other critics argue that Biden’s frequent use of a replica Oval Office, rather than the actual one in the White House, raises questions about authenticity and the administration’s control over the media narrative.

The existence of a staged Oval Office set is not new, as past presidents have also used controlled environments for press events and televised addresses. However, Habba’s criticism suggests that Biden relies on this setup more frequently than his predecessors, fueling speculation about the reasons behind it. Some theorists propose that the staged setting allows for better lighting, teleprompter placement, and controlled optics, while others go further, questioning whether Biden’s physical and cognitive state necessitates such accommodations.

Supporters of Biden, on the other hand, dismiss these concerns as political theater, arguing that all administrations use similar setups for practical reasons. They contend that the focus should be on policy and governance rather than the setting of press conferences. The White House has previously explained that the use of the replica set in the South Court Auditorium allows for more flexibility in media production and technical adjustments that the traditional Oval Office does not accommodate.