U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused members of former President Joe Biden’s staff of effectively running the White House during Biden’s time in office, calling them “traitors” and claiming they seized control of official duties while Biden’s health deteriorated.
The remarks were posted on Truth Social, Trump’s personal social media platform, and followed Sunday’s announcement from Biden’s office that the former president has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
Trump suggested that Biden was not fully in control of executive decisions during his presidency. “He wasn’t the one who wanted Open Borders,” Trump wrote. “That policy was pushed by the people who knew he was cognitively impaired, and who took over the autopen.”
The “autopen,” a mechanical device used to replicate a signature, has previously drawn scrutiny from Trump, who questioned its use during Biden’s term to authorize official documents, including pardons. Trump referenced the tool again in his latest attack, using it as a symbol of what he claims was Biden’s lack of capacity to govern.
“They stole the presidency and put us in great danger. This is treason at the highest level!” Trump wrote. “The Joe Biden that everybody knew would never allow drug dealers, gang members, and the mentally insane to come into our country totally unchecked and unvetted. All anyone has to do is look up his record.”
Trump added: “Something very severe should happen to these treasonous thugs who tried to destroy our country. But they couldn’t—because I came back.”
The post follows renewed attention on Biden’s physical and cognitive fitness after the cancer disclosure. In February 2024, a routine physical conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center concluded that Biden was “fit for duty.” However, a forthcoming book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson alleges that White House aides actively concealed signs of decline during Biden’s presidency.
Immigration policy was also a focal point of Trump’s message. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 7.2 million encounters with suspected undocumented migrants between January 2021 and January 2024 during Biden’s tenure — compared to 2.4 million during Trump’s first term.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking Monday to reporters aboard Air Force Two, also commented on Biden’s health and leadership. While extending well wishes, he echoed concerns about Biden’s ability to govern. “At some point, whether now or later, we need to be honest about whether the former president was actually capable of doing the job,” Vance said. “In some ways, I blame him less than I blame the people around him. Of course, we all wish him the best for his health.”
Congressional scrutiny is already underway. The House Committee on Oversight has launched an investigation into whether Biden’s administration withheld information about his condition from the public and whether key decisions were made by staff without his direct involvement.
