Donald Trump has ordered a sweeping investigation into Joe Biden’s presidential decision-making, claiming the Democrat’s aides engaged in a “dangerous conspiracy” to mask his cognitive decline. The Republican leader specifically targeted Biden’s use of an autopen—a signature replication device used by multiple presidents—to authorize executive actions, suggesting unauthorized officials wielded executive power.
Biden aged 82, however, dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous” and politically motivated, emphasizing he personally authorized all presidential actions during his term. This recent allegation heightens Trump’s longstanding campaign to question Biden’s mental acuity, now amplified by revelations from a new book detailing alleged physical deterioration during Biden’s 2024 re-election bid.
A GOP-led House committee has subpoenaed Biden’s former chief of staff and other aides regarding the president’s “mental and physical faculties” while in office. Trump framed the probe as critical for transparency, asserting Americans were “purposefully shielded” from knowing who truly governed during Biden’s presidency.
Bold Claims in “Original Sin” Fuel Controversy
The investigation follows allegations in “Original Sin”—a book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson—that Biden’s inner circle concealed his declining health during the 2024 campaign. Sources claimed aides debated providing Biden a wheelchair, while Democrats like Nancy Pelosi criticized his delayed exit from the race after a disastrous debate against Trump.
The former US president revealed last month that he was battling aggressive prostate cancer that metastasized to his bones. Trump allies argue Jill Biden and senior aides likely knew of his condition earlier – claims which have now led to debates about presidential disability protocols under the 25th Amendment.
Why It Matters
While Trump’s probe breaks new ground, it echoes past presidential health controversies (from Woodrow Wilson’s stroke to Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s speculation). Constitutional scholars have argued that the autopen has been used since Eisenhower, though its application to major policy decisions is still a hotly debated topic.
With House hearings set to begin next month and Biden’s medical updates under microscope, the investigation could shape new standards for gauging presidential accountability.
