In a recent announcement, former US President Donald Trump has upheld his pledge to revoke all documents, including executive orders, contracts, and legal pardons, that were signed through the use of an autopen during the Biden administration. Trump, at 79 years old, made this declaration through his personal social media platform on December 3.
Via his platform, Truth Social, the 47th US president stated, “Any and all Documents, Proclamations, Executive Orders, Memorandums, or Contracts, signed by Order of the now infamous and unauthorized ‘AUTOPEN,’ within the Administration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., are hereby null, void, and of no further force or effect.” He also warned recipients of such documents that they are now invalid and hold no legal weight.
Trump’s actions are seen as a response to his belief that decisions made using the autopen were not authorized by President Biden himself. The move is perceived as part of Trump’s ongoing efforts to discredit the Biden administration following the 2020 election. He has persistently alleged election fraud and is now attempting to erase the outcomes of the past election.
The cancellation of autopen-signed documents by Trump has garnered support from his Republican peers, who have expressed praise for his decision. Notably, the Heritage Foundation and GOP-led House Oversight committee chair James Comer have lauded Trump’s move to invalidate the autopen files signed by President Biden.
Despite claims that his aides acted independently, President Biden has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he personally signed all the pardons and commutations during his final days in office. He dismissed allegations of incapacity, labeling those spreading such rumors as “liars.” Biden emphasized his direct involvement in signing each document.
The latest development has sparked a reaction from both sides of the political spectrum, with Trump’s supporters celebrating his actions and his critics questioning the motives behind the annulment of the autopen-signed documents.