Former President Joe Biden announced on social media Wednesday that his book detailing his White House tenure, titled "Promise Me, America," will be published on November 17. The announcement has generated immediate backlash from Republicans and a measure of relief among Democrats concerned about its potential political impact.
The publication date, set for two weeks after the crucial midterm elections, was seen by some as a strategic move to mitigate damage. Michael LaRosa, a former spokesperson for First Lady Jill Biden, suggested the timing was intended to avoid preempting election day. "They certainly got the message from Democrats across the country who pleaded with them not to launch the book before the midterms," LaRosa told the Daily Mail.
However, LaRosa also noted that "there is no politically safe place on the calendar for this memoir," anticipating it could still negatively affect the party. Another former Biden White House official expressed a more optimistic view, suggesting the book might fade from public attention by next year.
Republican criticism was swift and often focused on Biden's cognitive fitness and age. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson questioned Biden's awareness of the book's release, posting, "What are the odds Joe Biden even knows he's releasing a book?" Online commentary and AI-generated imagery further amplified mockery. Users like Joseph Meaden questioned Biden's ability to write a book, referencing his use of an autopen for official documents. Conservative personality Graham Allen expressed skepticism, stating, "No one believes you wrote or even narrated a book for a ghost writer."
The book's content is expected to cover topics ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Questions surrounding Biden's age and mental acuity have been a persistent theme in conservative circles, particularly after a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024 that preceded his withdrawal from the race. Republicans, including Donald Trump, have frequently targeted Biden's perceived aging issues.
Some Democrats had previously expressed frustration with Jill Biden's memoir released in June, viewing it as a distraction. A spokesperson for Joe Biden did not immediately respond to requests for comment.