Republicans Can’t Stop Talking About Biden—And That Might Backfire
By USA NEWS TODAY, July 21, 2025
ATLANTA — Six months after Joe Biden left the White House, Republicans—led by President Donald Trump—continue to keep the former president front and center.
House Republicans have launched investigations into Biden’s presidency, alleging a cover-up of his physical and mental decline. The Senate is holding hearings on his mental fitness. Trump’s White House has even opened a probe into the use of the presidential autopen, a routine tool for signing documents, which Trump now calls “one of the biggest scandals in the history of our country.”
This fixation on Biden isn’t new. Blaming predecessors has long been part of Trump’s political strategy. Just last week, he tried to redirect criticism over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case by pointing fingers—Biden included.
But with the 2026 midterms looming, this continued focus on a president no longer in office may pose risks for both parties.
“Most Americans consider Joe Biden to be yesterday’s news,” said GOP pollster Whit Ayres.
Autopen Controversy Gains Steam
The Biden-era autopen use has become a rallying point for Trump allies. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) called it “a massive scandal.” Rep. Nick Lalota (R-N.Y.) said his constituents want to know what was really going on in Biden’s West Wing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed an investigation is underway, questioning whether Biden was truly in command or whether aides abused executive authority.
“We deserve to get to the bottom of it,” Leavitt said.
Biden fired back, calling the allegations “ridiculous and false,” asserting that he alone made the key decisions during his presidency.
Capitol Hill Hearings Target Biden’s Health, Staff
House Republicans have subpoenaed Biden’s physician and a top aide to Jill Biden—both invoking the Fifth Amendment. The Oversight Committee is also seeking testimony from former Biden staffers, including Ron Klain, Jeff Zients, and Anita Dunn. Hearings are scheduled into the fall, keeping Biden in the political spotlight.
“There was no there there,” said Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), who called the effort “a waste of time.”
Republicans' Messaging Gets Crowded
All this comes as Trump’s administration tries to promote its sweeping new legislative package—nicknamed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which includes tax cuts, border security, and reductions to programs like Medicaid. But polls show many Americans view the bill as benefiting the wealthy.
In fact, most Americans don’t see Trump’s economic, immigration, or healthcare policies as helpful to them.
“Americans want us to deal with the issues that are plaguing our country now,” said Rep. Bell. “Cost of living, food, housing, health care. This is just a distraction.”
Meanwhile, Trump is also clashing with some supporters over the Justice Department’s refusal to release more Epstein-related records—a topic polling suggests energizes his base more than autopen allegations.
“The Epstein saga is more important to his base than whatever happened to Joe Biden,” Ayres noted.
Democrats Keep Distance from Biden
While Republicans hammer Biden, Democrats remain cautious. Biden’s declining approval ratings and his decision to withdraw from the 2024 race left scars. Party leaders acknowledge his legislative achievements but would prefer to look forward.
“He was not at the top of his game because of his age,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). “We’re focused on winning back the House, flipping Senate seats—and figuring out who leads us into 2028.”
A Risky Political Calculation
Trump’s continued attacks on Biden could help fire up loyal voters. But they also risk overshadowing Republican policy gains and may alienate moderate voters concerned more about affordability and public safety than old controversies.
Even Rep. Lalota admits the challenge:
“My constituents care most about affordability and public safety. But this is an important issue nonetheless.”
Whether that calculation pays off for Republicans—or backfires—will become clearer as the midterms approach.
