Biden Slams Trump's "Cognitive Decline" Probe A Desperate Distraction?

Biden Dismisses Trump's Cognitive Decline Inquiry as a Distraction

President Joe Biden has dismissed Donald Trump's newly launched investigation into his cognitive abilities as a mere "distraction". The investigation, announced late Wednesday, alleges that Biden's top aides concealed his cognitive decline and made decisions on his behalf.

In a statement released to US media, Biden directly addressed the accusations. He stated that the timing of the investigation is suspect, coinciding with Trump's push for a controversial piece of legislation – a bill criticized for massive tax cuts and significant reductions in social spending.

“This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,” Biden declared. He emphatically added, “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

Trump's repeated attacks on Biden's mental acuity have escalated over time, culminating in the promotion of a conspiracy theory claiming Biden was replaced by a robot clone in 2020. These attacks follow the publication of a book co-authored by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, detailing Biden's alleged physical and mental decline during his presidency, a decline purportedly exacerbated as the 2024 election approached. The book mentions Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 campaign following a poorly received debate performance.

Trump's investigation, directed towards the counsel to the president, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials, aims to uncover whether individuals conspired to mislead the public about Biden’s mental state and potentially usurped presidential authority. The investigation will specifically focus on Biden's use of an autopen to sign legislation – a practice employed by many US presidents for decades.

Trump dramatically labeled Biden’s use of an autopen as "one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history".

The timing of this investigation is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with the intense political battle surrounding Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act". This legislation faces significant opposition, including from former Trump ally Elon Musk, who termed it a "disgusting abomination".

The bill's key features include:

• $3.75 trillion in tax cuts, extending existing breaks and adding new ones.
• Nearly $1.3 trillion in reduced federal spending, primarily impacting Medicaid and food assistance programs.
• 7.8 million people projected to lose health insurance due to Medicaid changes.

The investigation and its timing have fueled intense political debate, placing the spotlight on both the allegations against Biden and the highly contentious legislation currently before Congress.

In conclusion, while the allegations against President Biden are serious, the timing and context of this investigation raise questions about its true motives. The controversy underscores the intense political climate in the US and the high stakes involved in the ongoing legislative battles. The coming weeks will undoubtedly bring further developments in this unfolding story.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tags: Biden, Trump, investigation, cognitive decline, distraction, tax cuts, social spending, Medicaid, US politics, political news, autopen, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Elon Musk, Pam Bondi

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/05/joe-biden-dismisses-donald-trump-inquiry-into-his-cognitive-decline-as-a-distraction