President Trump just dropped a political thunderbolt, announcing the cancellation of nearly every document former President Joe Biden signed with an autopen.
The New York Post reported that Friday’s jaw-dropping move saw Trump not only scrap these documents but also threaten legal action against Biden if he claims involvement in the automated signing process.
Trump alleges that unelected aides improperly wielded executive power, painting a picture of a presidency run by shadows rather than the man elected to lead.
Trump, at 79, has long argued that Biden, now 83, was disengaged during his term, leaving staffers to call the shots without proper oversight.
On Truth Social, he claimed “approximately 92%” of Biden’s documents bore an autopen signature, declaring them “terminated, and of no further force or effect.”
He stated, “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect” (Trump, Truth Social). That’s a sweeping erasure, though whether it sticks legally is anyone’s guess.
Trump insists autopen use demands explicit presidential consent, calling the actions of Biden’s team unlawful without it.
He warned, “Joe Biden was not involved in the Autopen process and, if he says he was, he will be brought up on charges of perjury” (Trump, Truth Social). That’s a serious accusation, but without concrete evidence, it risks being more bark than bite.
Legal precedent, including a 2005 Justice Department analysis under George W. Bush, counters that a president needn’t physically sign if they direct a subordinate to use the autopen.
A House Republican-led probe this year found no direct proof that Biden’s aides acted without his approval, though circumstantial hints suggested he wasn’t always hands-on with key staffers.
Internal emails from Biden’s team reveal some authorization for signatures, yet also show aide concerns over verbally delivered, last-minute clemency instructions.
Biden’s spokesperson has stayed mum on the issue, offering no comment amidst the growing storm.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer hailed Trump’s decision, though the practical effect on specific executive actions remains unclear.
Trump has already reversed many of Biden’s executive orders and raised doubts about the validity of certain controversial, last-minute pardons Biden admitted to authorizing in a New York Times interview.
While the autopen’s legality isn’t the core issue—its use is valid with presidential direction—the notion of aides possibly acting unchecked fuels conservative frustration with what many see as progressive overreach, even if some might call this rollback more symbolic than substantive.
