Autopen: A device once considered a harmless administrative tool has suddenly become the centre of a fierce political storm in the United States. The autopen — a machine used to reproduce a handwritten signature — is now at the heart of a power struggle between former President Joe Biden and newly elected President Donald Trump.
Earlier today, President Trump publicly announced that all official documents signed by Joe Biden using an autopen are “null and void.” The unprecedented declaration has sparked chaos in legal and administrative circles, shaking decades of presidential practice.
What Is an Autopen — and Why Do US Presidents Use It?
An autopen is a mechanical signing device capable of replicating a person’s handwritten signature with remarkable precision. The machine holds a pen and uses a programmed pattern to create a signature indistinguishable from the original.
In the modern US presidency, the autopen has served three key purposes:
- Signing documents while the president is travelling.
- Handling high-volume paperwork such as letters, proclamations, and certificates.
- Ensuring administrative continuity during emergencies.
The device has been used by presidents from both political parties — including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump himself, and Joe Biden.
Legal scholars often compare the autopen to digital signatures used by heads of state worldwide. In 2011, the U.S. Justice Department formally ruled autopen signatures legally valid for signing legislation.
The Controversy: Trump Moves to Invalidate Biden Orders
Despite this longstanding precedent, President Trump has declared that autopen approvals during Biden’s administration—including executive orders, contracts, and presidential pardons—have “no force or effect.”
Trump further stated that individuals who received Biden’s pardon via autopen should consider them revoked, sending shockwaves through political and legal institutions.
Among the most affected are Biden’s final-hour pardons, reportedly including:
- Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley
- Former medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci
- Several lawmakers tied to January 6 investigations
- Multiple members of Biden’s family
Legal Experts Push Back
Constitutional lawyers argue that Trump’s declaration lacks legal standing, noting:
- Courts have previously upheld autopen signatures as lawful.
- Presidential pardons, once granted, are typically irreversible.
- Challenging autopen records could disrupt decades of official governance.
Some analysts warn that accepting Trump’s stance could open the door to disputes over thousands of historical federal documents — from military commissions to federal appointments.
A Constitutional Showdown Begins
What began as a technical question about a signing device has now evolved into a heated dispute over executive authority, presidential power, and historical procedure.
The coming weeks are expected to bring lawsuits, congressional scrutiny, and possibly even Supreme Court intervention.
For now, one question echoes through Washington:
Can a machine’s signature truly speak with the voice of a president — or only the president himself?