WASHINGTON, D.C. Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on Joe Biden, his predecessor, by focusing on what he calls the “Biden Autopen Scandal.” On Monday, Trump said that official documents, like presidential pardons, that were signed with a mechanical autopen instead of Biden’s actual hand were not legal or moral.
Trump said on his social media site, Truth Social, “The Biden Autopen Scandal is big, not as big as the Russia, Russia hoax, or the rigged 2020 Presidential Election, but, nevertheless, one of the biggest, ever!!!”
Trump’s main point is that Biden’s use of an autopen, especially to make important decisions like awarding pardons in the last few days of his tenure, shows that he didn’t completely understand what the documents said or wasn’t able to sign them himself. He said that the person who used the autopen was “our President” and that this kind of thing is “not allowed.” In June, Trump had already started an official probe into the issue, and House Republicans had also asked to talk to those close to Biden.
What the “Autopen Scandal” Is
Trump and his supporters have made the argument that Joe Biden’s frequent use of an autopen for official paperwork was proof that he was losing his mind and couldn’t govern. This is known as the “Biden Autopen Scandal.” This story implies that Biden’s staff had the power of the president, signed papers for him, and kept the public in the dark about his true health.
In 2024, many became more concerned about Biden’s health, especially after a debate against Trump that was heavily criticized. Biden dropped out of the presidential race soon after that because his own party told him to. This made it possible for Trump to beat Kamala Harris, who was then Vice President, in the general election. In May, Biden said he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which added to the rumors about his health. A new book also said that his health had been getting worse for years.
A Long-Standing Presidential Custom
But it’s crucial to remember that U.S. presidents have been using autopens for a long time and it’s legal. For many years, presidents from both major parties have used these tools to sign all kinds of papers, from everyday letters to more important bills and proclamations. Autopens have been utilized by famous people including Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and even Donald Trump himself while they were in office.
Even though this has happened before, the current administration and legislative Republicans have jumped on the matter and called it a significant violation of trust. Legal experts and the Department of Justice have both said that autopen-signed documents are still valid in court. However, the political issue is still going strong, with Trump utilizing it as a main point of criticism against his political opponent after he left office.