Former President Joe Biden announced a forthcoming memoir Wednesday titled 'Promise Me, America,' drawing swift criticism from conservative commentators who questioned whether he authored the book and revived scrutiny over his use of an autopen during his presidency.
The memoir is scheduled for release on Nov. 17, roughly two weeks after the midterm elections. According to a press release announcing the book, it will chronicle Biden's presidency and detail what his office described as the 'deeply agonizing calculation' behind his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Biden announced the book in a video posted to X, saying the work addresses challenges facing the nation, decisions made during his administration, and topics including economic recovery, January 6th, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, NATO relations, and support for Ukraine. He also mentioned continuing cancer treatment that he said has been progressing 'really well.'
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics were quick to question whether Biden authored the memoir himself. Steve Guest, a conservative communicator, wrote: 'The first lie of Joe Biden's book launch: I've written a book.'
Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., asked on X: 'Did the autopen write this too,' referencing previous Republican concerns about Biden using an automated signature device during his presidency to sign documents including pardons.
Clay Travis, founder of Outkick, wrote: '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.'
Former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who ran for mayor of Los Angeles, posted: 'This guy couldn't even sign his own name. He's not writing books' and suggested political memoirs serve as vehicles for financial transactions rather than genuine literary work.
President Donald Trump previously replaced Biden's official portrait in the White House with the actual autopen device used by the former president. Republicans have repeatedly questioned whether Biden possessed adequate mental acuity during his time in office.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive defenders of Biden argued that memoirs by former presidents represent standard political practice rather than cause for suspicion. Supporters noted that sitting and former presidents routinely collaborate with speechwriters and ghostwriters on books, making such arrangements unremarkable.
Democratic strategists suggested the timing of the book release after the midterms was a calculated move to avoid distracting from party candidates during the election cycle, which they characterized as standard political operations rather than evidence of evasion. Some liberal commentators pushed back against the age-related criticism, noting that Biden's four-year presidency included significant legislative achievements including major infrastructure and climate legislation.
What the Numbers Show
Biden served one four-year term as president from 2021 to 2025, exiting the race for a second term following a June debate performance that drew bipartisan concern about his age and stamina. He was approximately 81 years old at the end of his presidency. The book announcement came during ongoing cancer treatment, which Biden disclosed in the video accompanying the memoir's reveal.
Presidential memoirs represent a well-established tradition among former chief executives. Recent administrations have seen multiple cabinet members and senior officials publish accounts of their tenure. Publishing industry data indicates that political memoirs routinely appear within months to years of administrations concluding office.
The Bottom Line
The book launch illustrates ongoing partisan divisions over Biden's legacy, with conservatives using the announcement to revisit critiques of his mental fitness while supporters frame such attacks as politically motivated. The November release date places the memoir's prominence after the midterm elections in both chambers of Congress. Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for former President Biden and the current White House for comment on the criticism but had not received responses at publication time.