Trump targets Biden’s autopen directives

U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to invalidate a wide swath of Biden-era executive orders, claiming they were unlawfully signed using an autopen rather than personally approved by his predecessor.

Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump argued that Joe Biden “did not authorize” the device and insisted the majority of documents it signed should be considered void.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that Biden was not fully directing presidential decisions during his final months in office, suggesting aides may have used the autopen to issue executive actions without Biden’s review.

“Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated,” Trump wrote, adding that the device “is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States.”

He warned that Biden could face legal consequences if he asserts retroactive approval.

Autopens have been used by multiple past administrations from both parties, and a 2005 Justice Department ruling stated they are valid when their use is expressly authorized by the president.

Biden’s late-term clemency decisions have already drawn scrutiny from critics who argued some pardons and commutations were rushed. Trump maintains they are illegitimate if the autopen was used without Biden’s direct sign-off, though legal experts note presidential pardons cannot be undone once granted.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has asked the Justice Department to investigate Biden’s autopen authorizations. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed a review is underway after the committee said it could not locate documentation showing Biden approved the device for all actions it signed.

In a symbolic jab earlier this year, Trump even replaced Biden’s official White House portrait with a photograph of an autopen.