US President Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of all executive orders signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, using an autopen, a device that reproduces signatures. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, claiming that the use of the autopen was unlawful and that Biden had not authorized its use. According to Trump, approximately 92% of the documents signed by Biden were done so using the autopen.
Trump has long argued that Biden was impaired in his final months in office and was not directly involved in making major decisions. He has also alleged that some aides may have used the autopen to mimic Biden’s signature on actions that the president did not personally review. As a result, Trump has 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, with both Democratic and Republican presidents using them when they are unable to sign documents in person. A 2005 Justice Department opinion affirmed the validity of autopen signatures when authorized by the head of state. However, Trump claims that Biden did not provide the necessary authorization, and therefore, the documents signed using the autopen are invalid.
Biden’s use of the autopen has drawn scrutiny, particularly with regards to his late-term use of the clemency power. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of some of the pardons and commutations issued by Biden, with Trump arguing that they were not valid if signed via autopen without Biden’s direct oversight. Biden has countered that he personally approved every action.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has asked the Justice Department to review Biden’s use of the autopen, with Attorney General Pam Bondi confirming that the matter is under review. The committee has stated that it could not find documentation proving Biden had authorized the device for all actions it was used to sign.
Trump’s announcement has significant implications, although legal experts note that while a president can revoke a predecessor’s executive orders, there is no mechanism to undo pardons once granted. The move is likely to further escalate tensions between Trump and Biden, with Trump threatening legal consequences if Biden claims he approved the documents. The issue is likely to be closely watched in the coming days, with potential implications for the legitimacy of Biden’s actions during his time in office.
