On a recent weekday, a new development brought to light a unique form of animosity displayed by former President Donald Trump for his successor, Joe Biden. Trump demanded the White House legal team and the U.S. attorney general to dig deeper into allegations surrounding the Biden administration’s use of an autopen to sign his name on official papers. The claims, shrouded in controversy, suggested Biden may have been disengaged from these actions or perhaps, alarmingly, completely unaware they were happening.
This investigative inquiry, launched by Trump, marks a significant increase in his legal scrutiny against Biden, an often-confused figure who keeps insisting he had full control over decisions during his term. Biden’s stance runs contrary to Trump’s viewpoint which has relentlessly painted Biden as a leader struggling with full cognizance, especially in the twilight of his tenure.
Troubling signs supporting Trump’s claims emerged across various news outlets after Biden’s peculiar responses and behavior in a June 2024 debate. Biden’s questionable conduct during the debate set off warning bells among his own Democratic colleagues, thus tainting his public image and leading to his reluctant withdrawal from the reelection race.
Biden’s decision to not contest further was followed by his endorsement of his then-deputy, Kamala Harris, another figure in Democratic leadership whose aptitude often came under scrutiny. Trump, in a document, went on to claim a grave misuse of authority wherein ‘Biden’s aides used the Presidential signatures in a deceptive manner with an autopen in an attempt to mask Biden’s mental downfall, thereby exercising Article II power indirectly’.
This alleged conspiracy could go down as one of the most worrying scandals in the grand tapestry of American history. Trump’s document suggests the American populace was intentionally kept in the dark about who actually held the reins of the executive power, even as Biden’s signature was applied to thousands of papers to usher in radical policy changes.
Trump’s memo also revealed that if the Biden staff indeed used an autopen, a technological device engineered to replicate a person’s signature, ‘to hide such a mental downfall, and went on to take significant executive actions under his banner, it would be a direct violation of the Constitution and the principled exercise of Presidential power’. Such circumstances, if true, would significantly taint the legality and validity of numerous executive actions attributed to Biden.
In an Oval Office appearance last Thursday, Trump indicated that so far, no concrete proof had been unearthed that Biden’s aides had broken any laws. However, ‘I’ve discovered the complexity of the human mind,’ Trump laughingly confessed. ‘Standing next to Biden during a debate, I had strong doubts about his cognitive ability.’ Echoing similar sentiments, Trump added, ‘Such glaring issues should never be a part of our nation’s leadership.’
Biden’s response to the accusation was a written statement defending his tenure, refuting Trump’s claims as nothing more than distractions from his own actions. According to Biden, this investigation is a ploy by Trump to advance his legislative agenda that threatens to slash critical programs and increase the financial burden on American households.
Biden pushed back against the allegations stating, ‘Let maintenance be applied here: All decisions taken during my presidency fell directly under my radar. This includes the pardons, executive orders, bills, and proclamations.’ Biden’s assertion seems disingenuous given his track record and prevailing perception about his oversight.
Laughably, Biden dismisses the allegations as ‘ridiculous and false,’ suggesting that the idea of him not making his own decisions is preposterous. Again, one can’t help but question Biden’s credibility since his returned claims don’t seem to hold any weight.
From the curious case of the auto-signed official documents to the contradicting responses, this situation has mired Biden’s image further in controversy. It has enforced the widespread belief of a chaotic leadership under Biden, putting a question mark on his ability to execute presidential duties responsibly.
Nevertheless, should circumstances reveal Biden or his administration to have used autopen to sign official documents due to his cognitive issues, the repercussions might be far greater than what Biden currently comprehends. The tale of the autopen is still unfolding, and only time can tell the truth behind this historic controversy.