Revealed Note Cards Indicate Biden’s Reliance on Cues
Recent disclosures about former President Joe Biden’s note cards suggest he relied on them to identify key Democratic figures, like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
It’s not unusual for public figures to use “palm cards” for cues or talking points during speeches. These particular cards have come to light through an investigation connected to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) regarding an autopen inquiry.
During his presidency, Biden’s team reportedly utilized the autopen for numerous presidential actions. This practice was particularly evident in the final two months of his term, where nearly 2,500 people received commutations, constituting more than half of all clemency acts during his presidency. NARA, however, couldn’t verify Biden’s attendance at any of the clemency meetings that took place in December 2024 and January 2025.
The note cards unveiled that the 82-year-old former president required photos, names, and biographies for several notable public figures.
For instance, there was a card reminding Biden that Clinton served as “the Secretary of State in the Obama-Biden administration,” a time when he was vice president.
I mean, you’d think these would be common knowledge, right? But another notable figure who appeared on a card was Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, along with then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
A tweet shared by Fox News highlighted how these documents showed Biden’s cue cards, which included bios and photos of influential Democrats.
Interestingly enough, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein was also included in Biden’s cheat sheets, even though he awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom just a month earlier. This medal has also gone to notable figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, who recently passed away, and is set to be awarded posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk by former President Trump.
Another card reminded Biden about Denzel Washington, describing him as “one of the greatest actors of the 21st Century.” Kind of an interesting choice, but I suppose it helps to have notable names at your fingertips.
A former staff member mentioned to Fox News that including notable guests in briefings is pretty standard practice. It begs the question, though—wasn’t someone supposed to remind Biden that Chuck Schumer was going to be there?
Throughout the years, Biden has been seen with lists of prepared questions and curated images of journalists he would call on during press conferences.
In response to inquiries regarding the note cards, the White House pointed out how former President Trump used a more spontaneous style of addressing the media without notes.
“President Trump provides unrestricted access to the media, tackling any question freely, unlike his predecessor who needed to have everything pre-arranged,” said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. “Biden doesn’t compare when it comes to actually steering the country through tough questions.”
