Former President Donald Trump has launched an investigation into Joe Biden’s presidency, claiming the American public was misled about who truly held executive power. Trump alleges that Biden concealed his cognitive decline and allowed aides to use an autopen—an automatic signature device used by many presidents—to authorize executive actions without direct involvement.

Trump’s accusations have drawn swift backlash. In a statement, Biden dismissed the claims as “ridiculous and false,” asserting that he personally made all key decisions during his presidency, including pardons, executive orders, and policy directions. Biden framed the accusations as a political distraction, accusing Trump of deflecting attention from his own agenda, such as pushing tax breaks for the wealthy.

Trump’s Wednesday statement claimed Americans were “purposefully shielded” from knowing who was truly making decisions during Biden’s term. He described the situation as a “dangerous and concerning scandal,” escalating the rhetoric and calling for a full-scale investigation.

To pursue the matter, Trump issued a memorandum instructing White House counsel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials to determine whether a group of individuals conspired to mislead the public and unconstitutionally exercised presidential powers in Biden’s name.

Trump further pointed to Biden’s recently disclosed prostate cancer diagnosis, suggesting the former president was aware of his condition while still in office and deliberately kept it hidden. The escalating feud has once again intensified partisan tensions, with Biden denying wrongdoing and critics accusing Trump of manufacturing a scandal. The investigation’s political and legal consequences remain to be seen.