In a startling revelation that strikes at the very heart of our constitutional checks and balances, the Heritage Foundation‘s Oversight Project has alleged that nearly all documents from former President Joe Biden‘s first term were signed by an autopen—save for one lonely exception.
President Donald Trump blasted this as a mockery of our democratic processes. Late Sunday night, on Truth Social, Trump emphatically declared the 11th-hour pardons—handed out like dubious party favors to figures such as former Representative Liz Cheney, retired General Mark Milley, and government scientist Anthony Fauci—as “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.” According to Trump, these weren’t just signed by an autopen; they were issued without Biden’s knowledge or consent, which screams of constitutional foul play.
Moreover, Trump highlighted that these actions—if indeed done without Biden’s conscious approval—raise severe legal and ethical questions. The misuse of the autopen to execute documents of this magnitude not only undermines the sanctity of the presidential office but also exposes a shocking breach of trust with the American people. Trump argued that this subversion made a mockery of the presidency, reducing it to puppetry managed by Biden’s handlers.
This isn’t just about the legality of an autopen; it’s about the integrity of our nation’s highest office. If a president’s signature, a symbol of ultimate responsibility and authority, can be faked, what does that say about the state of our union? It suggests a presidency in absentia, where critical decisions are potentially being made without the informed consent of the elected leader.
As Trump pointed out, this isn’t merely a technicality to be shrugged off. The implications are enormous, casting doubts over the validity of key decisions made during Biden’s tenure. This isn’t just a procedural error; it’s a crisis of legitimacy.
Trump’s call to consider these autopen-signed pardons as null and void isn’t just his typical bravado. It’s a necessary stance to uphold the constitutional requirement that the president must personally execute or veto legislation and significant administrative actions. The fact that this might need to be adjudicated in courts underscores the gravity of the situation. Under Trump’s watch, such constitutional end-runs were unthinkable. He ensured that every decision bore not just his signature but his deliberate intent.
This scandal is more than a political skirmish; it’s a red alert for anyone who values the integrity of the presidential office and the democratic processes that underpin our republic. If these actions go unchecked, they set a dangerous precedent for future administrations. America must demand better, starting with a full investigation into these autopen machinations. We cannot stand idly by as the fundamental principles of our government are so blatantly disregarded.
