President Donald J. Trump has announced he will nullify every document—including pardons, commutations, executive orders and official memoranda—that he says was signed by former President Joe Biden using an autopen.
In a public post, Trump stated that any such documents are now “terminated and … of no further force or effect,” arguing that the use of the signature-replicating device under the prior administration was unauthorized.
His declaration places legal status of affected pardons, commutations, and executive acts in question — though it remains unclear precisely which documents will be invalidated, and how federal agencies are expected to proceed under the directive.
Critics and legal scholars note that while presidents can overturn many of their predecessors’ executive orders, pardons are generally understood to be irreversible once granted. As a result, many of Biden’s clemency actions may remain legally binding.
The move has triggered a broader debate: some view the step as necessary to restore what they term “legitimacy,” while others warn it could plunge key aspects of governance into chaos, especially for individuals whose legal status now hinges on the outcome.