Former US President Donald Trump has made a dramatic announcement, declaring that all executive orders signed by his predecessor Joe Biden using an autopen device are now invalid. The controversial statement came through Trump's Truth Social platform on Friday, escalating his long-standing claims about Biden's leadership capacity.
The Autopen Controversy Explained
In his social media post, Trump specifically targeted what he claims constitutes approximately 92% of Biden's signed documents, all allegedly executed through the mechanical signing device known as an autopen. The former president asserted that any document signed by Biden with the autopen is hereby terminated and has no legal force.
Trump elaborated on his reasoning, stating that the autopen cannot be legally used without specific presidential approval. He went further to suggest that Biden's staff operated the device illegally without proper authorization from the president himself.
Serious Legal Threats Issued
The former president didn't stop at merely canceling the orders. He issued a stark warning to his political rival, suggesting that Biden could face perjury charges if he claims involvement in the autopen signing process. This represents one of Trump's most direct legal threats against the current president.
Trump's statement contained his characteristic rhetorical style, referring to Biden as "Sleepy Joe" and describing White House staff as "Radical Left Lunatics" who allegedly took the presidency away from Biden. He claimed these unelected aides were running the country without proper authorization throughout Biden's four-year term.
Historical Context and Investigations
The autopen device itself is not a new invention in presidential administration. This mechanical signature device has been used by multiple presidents over decades for various purposes including:
- Routine proclamations
- Constituent correspondence
- Occasionally for legislation
When staff operate the autopen under presidential directive, the signatures carry full legal force. However, a House Republican investigation earlier this year examined Biden's autopen usage specifically.
According to reports from the New York Post, the investigation found no direct evidence that White House aides acted without presidential approval. The inquiry did reveal that Biden had infrequent meetings with key West Wing officials, and there were internal concerns about how verbally given instructions were being implemented, particularly regarding end-of-term clemency decisions.
This isn't the first time Trump has challenged the validity of Biden's executive actions. The former president has already revoked many of Biden's executive orders and has previously suggested that some presidential pardons issued by Biden might be invalid.
The latest announcement adds another layer to the ongoing political battle between the two figures, potentially setting the stage for further legal and constitutional debates about presidential authority and the proper use of administrative tools like the autopen device.
