President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he is canceling all executive orders signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, that were produced with an autopen—a device that reproduces signatures. Trump claims the autopen’s use was unlawful because Biden never authorized it, and he estimates that about 92 % of Biden‑signed documents were created with the machine. He argues that Biden was impaired during his final months in office, was not directly involved in major decisions, and that some aides may have used the autopen to mimic his signature on actions the president did not personally review. Consequently, Trump declared that any document signed by Biden with the autopen is “hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect.”
The use of autopens is not uncommon; both Democratic and Republican presidents have employed them when unable to sign in person. A 2005 Justice Department opinion affirmed the validity of autopen signatures when authorized by the head of state. Trump, however, maintains that Biden failed to provide the necessary authorization, rendering those documents invalid. Biden’s autopen use has drawn particular scrutiny regarding his late‑term clemency power. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of some pardons and commutations, arguing they are invalid if signed via autopen without Biden’s direct oversight. Biden counters that he personally approved every action.
The Republican‑led House Oversight Committee has asked the Justice Department to review Biden’s autopen usage. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the matter is under review, noting the committee could not locate documentation proving Biden authorized the device for all the actions it signed. Legal experts point out that while a president can revoke a predecessor’s executive orders, there is no mechanism to undo pardons once granted. Trump’s announcement therefore has significant implications and is likely to heighten tensions between the two leaders. He has warned of legal consequences if Biden claims he approved the documents, and the issue will be closely watched in the coming days for its potential impact on the legitimacy of Biden’s actions while in office.
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