Washington — In a significant development, President Trump announced on Friday that he is canceling all executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden using an autopen, a mechanical device designed to replicate signatures. In a statement shared on Truth Social, Mr. Trump declared, “Any document signed by Biden via the use of an autopen is hereby terminated and of no further force or effect.”
Mr. Trump emphasized, “I am hereby cancelling all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed by Crooked Joe Biden, because the people who operated the autopen did so illegally.” He further warned that if Biden claims involvement in the autopen process, he could face charges of perjury.
During his presidency, Joe Biden signed a total of 162 executive orders, according to the American Presidency Project. However, the exact number of these orders that were signed using an autopen remains unclear. Historically, it is not uncommon for incoming presidents to revoke their predecessor's directives, and Mr. Trump has already taken significant steps to roll back many of Biden's initiatives.
Shortly after taking office on January 20 for his second term, Mr. Trump rescinded nearly 70 of Biden's executive orders and another 19 on March 14, as reported by the White House. This rapid action reflects Trump’s commitment to dismantling Biden’s policies and reinstating his own agenda.
Previously, Mr. Trump initiated an investigation into the Biden administration's use of the autopen for signing crucial documents, including pardons. He alleged that there was a conspiracy to misuse the power of presidential signatures, suggesting that the autopen was employed to mask signs of Biden's cognitive decline.
In response to these allegations, President Biden firmly dismissed Trump’s claims as mere distractions. “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,” Biden stated.
In a recent report, House Republicans expressed concerns regarding Biden’s use of the autopen but failed to present substantial evidence that his aides had conspired to sign laws or other directives without his knowledge. The use of an autopen is not a new practice in American politics; in fact, in 2005, the Justice Department under President George W. Bush affirmed that the president has the legal authority to utilize an autopen to sign bills into law.
This ongoing debate over executive orders and signature practices highlights the complexities of presidential powers and the political maneuvering that often accompanies transitions of power in the United States. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the Biden administration and the larger political landscape.