Republicans in the Senate Judiciary Committee launched a bombshell hearing to dissect Joe Biden’s mental fitness, nearly six months after he vacated the White House. The June 18, 2025, session aimed to expose what GOP senators claim was a carefully hidden decline during Biden’s presidency, as the Associated Press reports. Democrats, predictably, boycotted the event, dismissing it as a partisan stunt.
The hearing, the first of several planned for 2025, scrutinized Biden’s cognitive capacity, spurred by his faltering debate performance against Donald Trump last summer, which forced his exit from the presidential race. Witnesses included Sean Spicer, Theodore Wold, both first term-Trump administration figures, and law professor John Harrison, none of whom worked under Biden. This lineup drew criticism for lacking firsthand insight, yet Republicans pressed forward.
Last summer’s debate debacle, in which Biden’s stumbles shocked viewers, ignited questions about his age and sharpness, questions that lingered into 2025. Republicans leaned on fresh reports to justify their probe, alleging a cover-up by Biden’s inner circle. The absence of Democrats, who skipped the hearing entirely, only fueled GOP claims of a dodge.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas vowed to “shine a light” on Biden’s White House, insisting the issue transcends his departure from office. His call for transparency rings hollow to Democrats, who see this as a distraction from pressing concerns. Yet, Cornyn’s point stabs at a truth: the public deserves clarity on who was steering the ship.
The hearing showcased clips of Democrats defending Biden’s mental acuity while he was in office, a montage Republicans used to mock their rivals’ denial. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri slammed Democrats for boycotting, accusing them of ignoring Biden’s decline then and now. The empty Democratic seats spoke louder than any rebuttal could.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee upped the ante, subpoenaing Biden’s former staff and White House doctor for a June 27, 2025, hearing on an alleged cognitive cover-up. This move signals Republicans’ intent to dig deeper, undeterred by Democratic stonewalling. The subpoenas aim to unmask what GOP lawmakers call an orchestrated effort to prop up Biden’s image.
President Trump, fresh off his November 2024 victory, amplified the scrutiny with claims that Biden’s team forged his signature and acted without his knowledge. He ordered White House and Justice Department lawyers to investigate, a bold move that thus far lacks concrete evidence but resonates with his base. Such allegations, while speculative, keep the spotlight on Biden’s tenure.
Republicans also questioned Biden’s alleged use of an autopen for signing pardons, executive orders, and other documents, with Trump claiming this undermines their legitimacy. The autopen issue, though technical, feeds into broader doubts about Biden’s capacity to govern. It’s a clever jab, turning a bureaucratic detail into a symbol of distrust.
Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama took aim at the media, questioning how to hold outlets accountable for allegedly ignoring Biden’s decline. Her point cuts deep in an era of declining trust in journalism, where many feel the press cherry-picks narratives. The media’s silence, Britt suggests, enabled a facade of competence.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois scoffed, calling the hearing an exercise in “arm chair diagnosing” a former president. His quip, meant to deflate the GOP’s case, instead highlights Democrats’ refusal to engage. Dismissing the probe as frivolous doesn’t answer the lingering questions about Biden’s fitness.
The witnesses -- Spicer, Wold, and Harrison -- offered perspectives shaped by their distance from Biden’s administration, a fact Democrats seized on to discredit the hearing. Yet, their testimony, rooted in public observations and legal analysis, aimed to frame Biden’s decline as a national security concern. The GOP’s choice of outsiders underscores the challenge of piercing Biden’s inner circle.
Republicans’ focus on Biden’s mental state, months after his exit, reflects a broader strategy to tarnish his legacy while rallying their base. The hearings, paired with Trump’s investigations, keep Biden’s perceived weaknesses in the headlines. It’s a calculated move to contrast Trump’s vigor with Biden’s frailty.
The boycott by Democrats, as Schmitt noted, mirrors their past defenses of Biden, which now look like deflections. Playing those old clips was a masterstroke, exposing what Republicans call a pattern of denial. The contrast between Democrats’ past praise and Biden’s debate collapse is hard to ignore.
With more hearings planned, including the House’s upcoming session, Republicans show no signs of letting up. The subpoenas for Biden’s former aides and doctor signal a willingness to escalate, even if answers remain elusive. This persistence keeps the narrative alive, framing Biden’s presidency as a cautionary tale.
The saga of Biden’s questionable mental fitness, amplified by Trump’s return to power, underscores a divided nation’s struggle to trust its leaders. Republicans argue that uncovering the truth, however inconvenient, is a public service. As the probes continue, the question remains: will Democrats engage, or keep running from the spotlight?
