Fact Check: "Joe Biden is a dictator"
What We Know
The claim that President Joe Biden is a dictator stems from a misinterpretation of his comments during an interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos. In an October town hall, Biden stated, “things you can’t do by executive order unless you’re a dictator,” in response to a question about tax increases. He emphasized the need for consensus in a democracy, indicating that he does not believe tax policy should be enacted through executive orders (AP News). This statement has been taken out of context, leading to the assertion that Biden is governing like a dictator.
Biden's use of the term "dictator" was not an admission of his own governance style but rather a critique of the idea that a president could bypass Congress for significant policy changes, particularly regarding taxes (USA Today). His administration has indeed utilized executive orders, but these have not included changes to tax policy, which is a power reserved for Congress (AP News).
Analysis
The claim that Biden is a dictator is primarily based on selective editing of his comments, which has been widely circulated on social media and by some political figures (AP News). The context of Biden's statement is crucial; he was responding to a specific question about tax policy and was asserting that such matters require legislative approval, not unilateral executive action. This is consistent with democratic principles and the constitutional separation of powers.
Moreover, the rhetoric surrounding Biden as a dictator often reflects broader partisan narratives rather than factual assessments of his actions. For instance, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum referred to the Biden administration as a "dictatorship" due to regulatory actions, despite Biden having signed fewer executive orders than both his immediate predecessor and some state governors (Washington Post). This suggests that the label "dictator" is being used more as a political weapon than a factual description of Biden's governance.
The sources that propagate this claim, including certain conservative media outlets and political figures, often lack rigorous fact-checking and are prone to bias. For example, claims made by figures like Charlie Kirk have been debunked by multiple fact-checking organizations, confirming that Biden did not admit to governing like a dictator (PolitiFact).
Conclusion
The claim that Joe Biden is a dictator is False. The assertion is based on a misrepresentation of his comments regarding executive orders and tax policy, taken out of context to imply a dictatorial governance style. Biden's statements emphasize the importance of democratic processes and consensus, which contradicts the notion of dictatorial rule. The use of the term "dictator" in this context serves more as a political strategy than a reflection of Biden's actual governance.
Sources
- Clip of Biden using term 'dictator' to describe executive orders lacks context
- Biden on Trump 'dictator' remark: 'He's saying it out loud'
- The 'Biden dictatorship': How the right reframes the threat to democracy
- Fox News says it 'addressed' onscreen message that called Biden a “wannabe dictator”
- Fact check: Joe Biden misquoted on executive orders, dictators - USA TODAY
- Joe Biden Is a 'Dictator' and 'Worse Than Trump ... - Newsweek
- Fact check: Charlie Kirk distorts Joe Biden's words
- Biden did not admit he's 'governing like a dictator' - PolitiFact
