Trump Orders Investigation into Biden’s Use of Autopen; Biden Calls Claims “Ridiculous”
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Former president denies any delegation of decision-making during his term
Tone & Political Bias: Weakly Right-Leaning
Why: Framing highlights skepticism of Biden’s cognition and emphasizes Trump’s claims without including broader expert or legal context.
Biden Defends Decisions Amid Autopen Probe
Former President Joe Biden issued a firm denial Wednesday that anyone other than him made official decisions during his time in office. His statement came just hours after President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into whether Biden’s aides used a mechanical autopen to sign key executive documents on his behalf.
“I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden said. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”
Biden also criticized the probe as politically motivated, stating, “This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.”
Trump Launches Investigation into Autopen Usage
President Trump directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to lead the probe, following reports that Biden frequently used an autopen during his presidency.
In a formal memo, Trump argued that Biden’s aides may have abused the device to conceal signs of his cognitive decline. He called it “one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” suggesting the public was “shielded” from knowing who was truly exercising executive authority.
Background: What Is an Autopen?
An autopen is a device used to replicate signatures. U.S. presidents have used versions of it since at least Thomas Jefferson, and its modern usage dates back to President Harry Truman. Typically, autopens are used for routine items like letters or commemorative documents.
However, concerns have been raised over whether the device was used inappropriately to sign sensitive documents like pardons and executive orders without Biden’s direct review or consent.
Oversight and Legal Inquiries Underway
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project initially uncovered records indicating widespread autopen use during Biden’s term. This discovery has triggered multiple investigations:
White House Working Group: Ed Martin, head of the anti-weaponization group, is examining whether Biden’s cognitive state enabled aides to act in his name using the autopen or other tools.
Congressional Probe: House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has launched a parallel inquiry. Five former Biden aides have been summoned to testify regarding Biden’s mental capacity and whether there was an internal cover-up.
Trump’s Memo Highlights Broader Allegations
Trump’s directive claims that if Biden lacked the mental capacity to carry out presidential duties and aides used the autopen to conceal it, the situation could represent a “constitutional violation.”
He also wants the investigation to explore whether there were internal attempts to “falsely deem recorded videos of the President’s cognitive inability as fake.”
Context: Renewed Focus on Biden’s Cognition
The autopen probe follows recent debate sparked by Original Sin, a book by journalist Jake Tapper, which details alleged concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness during his presidency.
Trump and several Republicans have used the book’s claims to bolster their argument that Biden was not fully in control of executive decision-making during his time in office.
What’s Next
White House counsel Warrington will lead the legal arm of the autopen investigation alongside AG Bondi. House Republicans are expected to hold public hearings in the coming weeks. The findings could cast a wider shadow over the legality of numerous executive actions taken during the Biden presidency. Biden, however, remains clear in his position: “I made the decisions.”
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