Trump Annuls Biden's Autopen-Signed Executive Orders, Sparking Controversy

On November 28, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of all executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden using an autopen, a device that replicates signatures. Trump claimed that approximately 92% of Biden's executive orders were signed this way and alleged, without evidence, that Biden was not involved in the autopen process. He stated that any document signed by Biden with the autopen is "hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect."

The autopen is a mechanical device that reproduces a person's signature, allowing for the signing of documents without the individual's direct involvement each time. Its use in the White House dates back to the early 19th century, with President Thomas Jefferson employing a similar device. In modern times, presidents including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump himself have utilized the autopen for various official documents. Notably, President Obama was the first to sign legislation into law using an autopen.

The Department of Justice has affirmed the legality of using an autopen for signing bills into law, provided the president has directed its use. In 2005, the DOJ stated that the president does not need to sign a bill by hand and can direct an official "to affix the president’s signature to such a bill, for example by autopen." Legal experts have also noted that the method of signing does not invalidate the legitimacy of presidential actions, including executive orders and pardons.

President Trump has alleged that Biden's aides used the autopen to sign documents without Biden's knowledge, suggesting a cover-up of Biden's cognitive decline. In June 2025, Trump ordered an investigation into Biden's use of the autopen, questioning whether decisions made under Biden were properly authorized. Trump has also claimed that pardons issued by Biden using the autopen are "void," particularly those granted to members of the House January 6 Select Committee.

Former President Biden has firmly denied these allegations, stating, "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."

Trump's move to cancel executive orders signed via autopen raises significant legal and political questions. Legal scholars argue that overturning such orders on the basis of the signing method lacks legal foundation and could set a problematic precedent, given the longstanding acceptance of autopen use. Politically, this action intensifies the partisan divide, with Republicans supporting the investigation into Biden's autopen use and Democrats denouncing it as a politically motivated distraction.

While it is common for incoming presidents to revoke their predecessor's executive orders, the specific targeting of orders based on the method of signature is unprecedented. This action could lead to legal challenges and further debates over the validity of executive actions signed via autopen.

In summary, President Trump's decision to nullify executive orders signed by President Biden using an autopen has sparked a complex legal and political debate, highlighting the tensions surrounding presidential authority and the methods used to execute official actions.