Trump cancels any executive actions from Biden signed with autopen, questions legitimacy of Biden-era orders

President Donald Trump announced via a social-media post Friday that he would cancel any executive action from Joe Biden that was signed using an autopen, the mechanical device that replicates a signature. He stated that any document not physically signed by Biden is “terminated,” claiming, without evidence, that autopen use proves Biden was not directly involved in the signing process. Trump warned that if Biden claims otherwise he could face perjury charges. Neither the White House nor any Biden spokesperson has issued a comment.

The use of autopens by U.S. presidents is not new. According to a 2005 opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), a president does not have to personally affix a signature for a bill to count as signed under the Constitution — a subordinate may affix the signature at the president’s direction, including via autopen.

Some critics view Trump’s move as largely political, noting that executive actions or pardons issued under autopen — even if controversial — were likely legally valid under past precedent.

Others warn the attempt to retroactively void orders — especially pardons or clemency decisions — could be legally fraught or even impossible, since once granted such powers may not be undone simply because of the signature method.

This marks the latest in a series of challenges by Trump and allies over the legitimacy of Biden-era executive decisions and the use of autopen for major directives.

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