Many Americans, and even some within the Democratic Party, are starting to wonder if Joe Biden is truly in control of the decisions being made under his administration. From his frail public appearances to his ongoing struggle with coherence in major speeches, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the questions surrounding his leadership.
And some of the decisions he (or those doing them on his behalf) made were extremely radical and consequential.
The most notable, of course, was when he commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, reducing their sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This move, which was part of a broader trend of clemency actions, has been met with condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Biden justified the decision by referencing his conscience, his experience as a public defender, and his longstanding opposition to the federal death penalty.
That argument falls apart when you consider that he didn’t commute all of the death sentences.
Biden’s commutation came shortly after he granted clemency to nearly 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39, including his son, Hunter Biden. The sheer volume of pardons and commutations has been unprecedented, but the inclusion of his son in the mix is one that raises further concerns about the integrity of these actions.
Related: Is Joe Biden Saving His Worst Decisions for His Last Day In Office?
The backlash to Biden’s clemency spree has been fierce, and given his awareness of the importance of his legacy, it’s hard to believe this is something he would have done on his own. The timing of these actions raises suspicions that others may be operating in the shadows, pushing through as many decisions as possible to appease the radical left before Biden leaves office. Speculation over whether Joe Biden is truly behind these commutations has grown in the days since the announcement, with even members of Congress now questioning his involvement.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) has suggested that the radical left within Biden’s administration may be wielding more power than many realize. He argued that these commutations align with a broader leftist agenda being pushed through in the final weeks of Biden’s presidency.
“Look, I think what’s happening with Joe Biden, nobody thinks he even knows about these clemencies or these pardons,” Donalds said on Fox News on Friday. “This is the radical left staff that has been running this administration for the last four years. And so I agree with President Trump in what he said about these 37 individuals who have been granted clemency.”
Clearly, Donalds is not convinced Biden is making the decisions.
“This is outrageous,” Donalds continued. “They should not have a Merry Christmas, to be perfectly blunt with you. But this is because we have the radical left doing all the things they’ve been wanting to do for a very long time on their way out the door while Joe Biden is at the beach or taking a nap or whatever it is he’s doing. This is a travesty. We are a country that doesn't have a president right now.”
NEW: Congressman Byron Donalds says nobody actually believes Biden was the one who issued these pardons and commutations for criminals on de*th row.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 27, 2024
HOST: Do you think Biden knew what he was signing?
DONALDS: "No. I don't."
"This is the radical left staff that has been running… pic.twitter.com/y9ZsNigJPH
Is Biden truly making these decisions, or is he merely a figurehead, serving as the front for policies that are being shaped by others? We may not know the answer definitively, but the question is increasingly difficult to ignore. Even members of Congress are asking the question.
As Biden’s term nears its conclusion, more people are starting to ask: does anyone believe Joe Biden is in charge anymore? With the radical left pushing its agenda and growing concerns about Biden’s mental acuity, it’s becoming harder to ignore the possibility that someone else is calling the shots.
Biden’s commutation decisions seem less like a president’s judgment and more like another chapter in the mystery of who is truly running this country.
