Biden Beats Trump EO Record

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a potential Republican VP pick, has repeatedly claimed that President Joe Biden is governing like a "dictator." On CNN's State of the Union, Burgum said Biden had bypassed Congress more than any other president. He criticized Biden's use of executive orders on issues like immigration and student debt relief.

"The open borders and the inflation are things that [Biden’s] doing by himself alone, ignoring the other branches of government." — Doug Burgum

CNN's Kaitlan Collins fact-checked Burgum, noting that former President Trump signed 220 executive orders in 4 years, while Biden has signed 139 so far.

Data from the American Presidency Project confirms Collins' numbers. While Biden did use executive action more than others in his first days, this was mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump still issued more orders by this point in his term.

Experts disagree with Burgum's dictatorship claim, stating there's no evidence Biden has bypassed Congress more than past presidents.

"I do not see Biden’s actions as being materially different from his recent predecessors of either party... Presidents of both parties have relied on EOs." — John Frendries, Loyola University Chicago

Burgum's claim ignores key context: Biden's actions have been through the legal system, facing Supreme Court rulings, and do not indicate a dictatorship. The Supreme Court rejected Biden's student loan forgiveness order and allowed expansion within existing regulations, demonstrating judicial check on executive power.