The announcement of former President Joe Biden's upcoming memoir, titled "Promise Me, America," has been met with immediate and widespread ridicule from conservative voices, igniting a fresh wave of questions surrounding his health, advanced age, and the long-standing controversy over his alleged use of an autopen during his time in office.
Critics wasted no time in dismantling the premise of a Biden-authored book. "This guy couldn't even sign his own name. He's not writing books. LMAO," declared former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt on X, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. Pratt further alleged, "Politicians write books to launder money. Nobody wants to read this, but the corrupt NGOs he provided for as President will buy up 100K copies and burn 'em to hold up their end of the bribes."
These sharp rebukes underscore persistent concerns that have dogged Biden throughout his term, particularly regarding his purported cognitive decline.
The memoir itself, according to a press release, is meant to chronicle his presidency and reveal the "deeply agonizing calculation" behind his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Set for release on November 17, conveniently after the midterms, the timing itself raises eyebrows, suggesting an attempt to manage negative publicity.
Biden announced the book in a video posted to X, also mentioning he had been receiving treatment for a cancer diagnosis, which he claimed was "going really well." In the video, he vaguely referenced the book's focus on "the challenges we face as a nation" and "the decisions I made and why I made them," including "rebuilding our economy and restoring our democracy after the attack on January 6th, ending our nation's longest war in Afghanistan, strengthening NATO and supporting Ukraine." Yet, the public's reaction was far from convinced.
Social media users, particularly conservatives, swiftly mocked the announcement with pointed questions and disbelief.
"The first lie of Joe Biden’s book launch: ‘I’ve written a book,’" quipped conservative communicator Steve Guest, encapsulating the widespread skepticism. Nathan Brand of The Brand Brief added, "Could you imagine if this guy was halfway through his second term. it’s still insane to me that so many people lied about this man’s health to hold onto power."
The central contention revolves around the infamous autopen. "Joe Biden couldn’t sign his own pardons. Now he’s ‘written’ a book, which Democrats forced him to release after the midterms so he wouldn’t be in the news to remind people how bad he was," stated Outkick founder Clay Travis, directly linking the two controversies. He then challenged, "Who in the world is buying this book?"
"Who do we think wrote this book," questioned Daily Wire editor-in-chief Brent Scher, echoing the sentiment. Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith went further, asking, "Did the autopen write this too?" Florida Republican candidate Mark Kaye simply yet powerfully stated, "Auto pen."
Many X users responded to Biden's video announcement by sharing images of an autopen marking Biden’s name in the Presidential Walk of Fame – a stark visual reminder of the questions surrounding his capacity. Former President Donald Trump famously replaced Biden’s portrait with a device previously used by the then-commander-in-chief to sign important orders, including pardons, highlighting the depth of this public and political dispute.
Trump has consistently criticized Biden's use of the autopen, asserting that the former president often didn't know what documents he was signing, and that thousands of pardons could therefore be void. These claims have fueled ongoing Republican and conservative scrutiny of Biden’s mental acuity while in office.
The entire debacle surrounding "Promise Me, America" serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of leadership clarity and transparency in the highest office. When public trust is eroded by persistent questions about a leader's basic capabilities and the authenticity of their actions—even down to signing their own name—it signals a profound failure in accountability and a disservice to the American people who deserve nothing less than full competence and genuine leadership.
