President Trump announced today he is cancelling all executive orders and other official documents signed by his predecessor using a mechanical signing device — the autopen — declaring they no longer carry legal weight. He asserted that nearly all of former President Biden’s documents were autopen-signed rather than personally signed by Biden himself. Trump further warned that if Biden claims he authorized those autopen signatures, he could face perjury charges.
The sweeping move also raises doubts about the validity of pardons and executive actions from the previous administration. White House officials say the decision applies to everything executed via autopen without the president’s direct signature. The announcement has sparked alarm among some legal experts who note that using the autopen has been an accepted practice under past administrations.
The decision is already drawing strong reactions from Congress and legal analysts, setting the stage for an intense battle over the legitimacy of hundreds of documents issued under the prior presidency.