United States President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with his predecessor, declaring he will nullify every executive order he alleges Joe Biden signed using an autopen.
Trump repeated the claim in a fiery social media post, asserting that “approximately 92 percent” of Biden’s directives were “illegitimate,” though he offered no evidence supporting the accusation.
The president stated that any directive lacking a personally hand-signed Biden signature “is hereby terminated,” adding that actions taken through an autopen “have no force or effect” in his administration.
Trump has long argued Biden’s advanced age made him “incapable of overseeing the executive office,” resurrecting accusations that senior aides exploited the former president’s health to conduct policymaking.
“Joe Biden did not sign most of those documents,” Trump wrote, insisting Biden “was not involved in the autopen process” and threatening perjury charges should he deny the claims.
The autopen, however, is a mechanical signature tool used by multiple US presidents, including Trump himself, and is considered legally valid for signing certain federal documents.
Historical records show the autopen has existed since the era of Thomas Jefferson, gaining popularity as administrative demands increased and signature reproduction technologies improved.
Trump nevertheless framed Biden’s alleged reliance on the machine as “unprecedented abuse,” casting the device as a symbol of what he describes as Democratic mismanagement and deception.
The president’s latest comments revived months of accusations targeting Biden’s health, including claims the Democrat suffered “declining mental acuity” during the final stretch of his term.
Biden’s representatives repeatedly rejected such allegations, stressing that the former president “personally approved all executive actions,” and branding Trump’s claims as “ridiculous and false.”
In a previously issued statement, Biden insisted, “I made the decisions during my presidency, including pardons, executive orders and proclamations. Any suggestion otherwise is fabricated.”
Trump has frequently attacked Biden’s use of the autopen, even unveiling a mock “walk of fame” near the White House gardens earlier this year featuring a framed photo of the device.
During a recent meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump reportedly showcased the autopen photo as an example of what he called “Biden’s absentee presidency.”
The rivalry between the two men remains deeply personal. After losing to Biden in 2020, Trump continued asserting the election was stolen—claims rejected by courts, state officials and federal investigators.
Trump later defeated the Democratic ticket in the 2024 race after Biden withdrew due to mounting intra-party pressure and voter anxiety over his age and debate performance.
Despite the change in political fortunes, Trump has not relented in accusing Biden of being “a figurehead,” alleging that aides acted without proper presidential oversight.
“The Radical Left circled him at the Resolute Desk and made decisions he didn’t understand,” Trump claimed, portraying Biden as manipulated by staff in key policy decisions.
Legal scholars, however, argue Trump’s comments misrepresent the law. They note that US statutes do not require executive orders or presidential pardons to be physically signed by the president.
A 2005 Office of Legal Counsel memo clarified that “the President need not personally perform the physical act of signing” legislation or executive documents for them to be valid.
The memo further noted that a president may authorize subordinates to apply a signature, whether through autopen or similar means, provided he approves the underlying decision.
During Biden’s term, concerns over his health intensified following a troubling debate performance in June 2024, when he appeared stiff and struggled to maintain consistent responses.
The moment sparked widespread calls from Democratic leaders urging him to exit the race, citing fears his age would dominate the election and hinder his policymaking effectiveness.
Biden ultimately stepped aside weeks later, acknowledging in private that the political pressure and public doubts about his stamina had become insurmountable obstacles to reelection.
This year, Biden disclosed a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer requiring radiation therapy, prompting additional questions regarding his health during his presidential tenure.
Trump is not free from age-related scrutiny either. Should he complete his current term, he will be older than Biden was at the end of his presidency, a reality not lost on critics.
A recent newspaper investigation described Trump displaying “signs of fatigue,” claiming he had been observed dozing off during several events—a report the president angrily denied.
Trump dismissed the article as “fake,” accusing the reporter of bias and declaring that he “aced” his most recent cognitive and physical evaluations without difficulty.
Despite the intensifying rhetoric, experts say Trump’s threats to nullify Biden’s orders cannot be carried out unilaterally without legal review or congressional action.
Presidents may reverse previous executive orders, but voiding them based on unfounded signature claims would face immediate legal challenges and almost certain judicial rejection.
Moreover, many Biden-era executive orders relate to programs already implemented, meaning reversing them would require formal rulemaking processes or inter-agency coordination.
Critics argue Trump’s messaging is aimed at energizing supporters rather than establishing enforceable policy, echoing prior statements he made during his first term regarding political rivals.
Earlier this year, Trump attempted to invalidate Biden’s pardons for members of a congressional committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
He insisted those pardons were “vacant and fraudulent” because they were “signed by autopen,” a claim constitutional experts broadly dismissed as having no legal foundation.
Presidential pardons, they noted, do not require specific signature techniques and can even be delivered verbally, provided the president clearly communicates the intention.
Meanwhile, political analysts say Trump’s latest remarks reflect a broader narrative portraying his opponents as illegitimate, a tactic that has defined his communication style for years.
Supporters argue Trump is highlighting what they believe was a lack of transparency during the Biden administration, insisting concerns about the former president’s health were justified.
Opponents counter that Trump’s allegations exploit age-related fears and undermine public trust in democratic institutions by promoting unfounded claims and conspiratorial interpretations.
The dispute continues to dominate national political debate, serving as a proxy for deeper questions about presidential fitness, aging leaders and the limits of executive authority.
Pollsters report that age-related concerns remain high for both men, with voters expressing unease about leaders nearing or surpassing their eighties in one of the world’s most demanding jobs.
Public health experts say aging presidents may face unique cognitive and physical strains, though they caution against drawing conclusions without clinical evaluations or transparent reporting.
For now, Trump’s declaration marks yet another flashpoint in a polarised political environment, underscoring how disputes over legitimacy and health continue shaping the post-Biden landscape.
The controversy also raises questions about how the next administration will handle executive power, oversight of presidential authority and the proper use of mechanical signature tools.
While the debate dominates national headlines, legal advisers indicate the courts will likely decide whether any attempt to dismantle Biden-era orders has valid constitutional footing.
Until then, Trump’s declaration serves primarily as a symbolic escalation, intensifying tensions between the country’s two dominant political figures in an already divided nation.
Observers expect further confrontations as Trump continues challenging the legacy of his predecessor while attempting to consolidate authority during his second term in office.
Whether the autopen controversy leads to meaningful policy change remains uncertain, but the political implications are significant as the country navigates questions of power, age and presidential competence.
—
