Trump terminates 'Sleepy Joe Biden' autopen actions

On November 28, former President Donald Trump continued his ongoing effort to undo decisions made by his successor, claiming on Truth Social that any document signed by President Joe Biden using an autopen is invalid. Trump stated, Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was roughly 92% of them, is hereby terminated and of no further force or effect.

Although social media posts carry no legal authority, this message could hint at possible future moves, such as refusing to enforce executive orders issued during the Biden administration.

Photographs taken on September 25, 2025, at the White House depict framed portraits of Trump flanking a display featuring Bidens signature alongside an autopen, labeled The Presidential Walk of Fame. Media members documented the display along the colonnade outside the Oval Office. Similar images from September 19, 2025, show Bidens signature and autopen featured instead of a traditional presidential portrait.

Trumps remarks may also serve a political purpose, aiming to cast doubt on Bidens authority by suggesting he is not fully in controla claim the current president rejects. Trump has mocked Bidens use of the autopen in the past, even replacing a White House portrait of Biden with an image of the machine itself.

An autopen is a device that replicates a signature using real ink, often used for high volumes of correspondence. Presidents, including Trump, have historically relied on this technology. The practice dates back over two centuries to Thomas Jefferson, following the patenting of the machine in 1803, according to the Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Presidents such as Gerald Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have all used autopens. Obama was the first president to sign legislation using one in 2011, and a 2005 Justice Department memo confirmed autopen use is legal, noting a signature can be authorized to be affixed by another on ones behalf. Legal experts also point out that the Constitution does not require a president to personally sign pardons.

Trump has repeatedly suggested, without proof, that Biden was unaware of actions signed via autopen, asserting that this would invalidate them. He further stated, The Autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the President of the United States. Trump claimed the Radical Left Lunatics surrounding Biden had effectively taken control of the presidency, and he announced the cancellation of all executive orders and documents not directly signed by Biden, alleging illegal operation of the autopen. He also threatened perjury charges if Biden claims involvement.

Similar accusations were made by Trump in June, prompting the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on October 28 to recommend a Justice Department investigation. The White House responded to questions about how Bidens orders could be terminated by pointing back to Trumps social media statements.

Trump has admitted using an autopen himself, though only for minor correspondence. In March, he criticized Biden for using the device to sign pardons and other significant documents. Meanwhile, Biden has dismissed claims that he was unaware of autopen use, calling such assertions false.

Under normal circumstances, a president can reverse previous executive orders by issuing a new one. Social media statements alone, however, have no legal effect. Pardons, in particular, cannot be revoked once granted. Trump has previously declared Biden-issued pardons null and void on the grounds of autopen use.

Trump has also leveraged the Department of Justice against political opponents and maintains a longstanding hostility toward the Biden family. To shield his relatives from potential legal action, Biden pardoned family members for possible crimes before leaving office, including his son Hunter and brother James. Trump had previously signaled intentions to pursue prosecution against what he called the entire Biden crime family, with comments echoed by figures expected to serve in a future Trump administration.

This report originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump declares Joe Biden autopen actions hereby terminated.

Author: Sophia Brooks