Washington, D.C. – September 5, 2025 – In a fiery statement that has reignited debates over presidential authority and the use of technology in official acts, President Donald Trump declared that pardons issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, using an autopen signature device are “worthless” and should be considered void.
Trump specifically targeted what he described as pardons granted to “very bad, unpatriotic, and evil people,” suggesting they were improperly executed and lack legal standing.
The controversy stems from Biden’s final days in office, when he issued a series of pardons, including to members of the January 6 congressional committee and others Trump has long criticized.
Trump, speaking during a public event, doubled down on his claims, stating, “All those pardons he gave to some very bad people, very unpatriotic people, very evil people—it looks to me like those pardons are worthless.”
He argued that the use of an autopen—a mechanical device that replicates a signature without the president’s physical presence—renders the documents invalid, even though legal experts note that autopens have been used by presidents for decades without issue.
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing legal scrutiny of Biden’s pardons, which included clemency for figures involved in investigations Trump views as politically motivated against him.
“Whoever used the autopen was the president. And that is wrong. It’s illegal, it’s so bad,” Trump said, without providing specific evidence of impropriety beyond the autopen usage itself.
Supporters echoed his sentiments on social media, with posts calling for the pardons to be revoked and recipients prosecuted.
Critics, however, dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless. Legal analysts pointed out that there is no ongoing controversy tying autopens to invalidating pardons or legislation, emphasizing that such devices are a standard tool for efficiency in the executive branch.
One commentator on Reddit argued that Trump’s logic lacks rationality, suggesting it’s more about political retribution than legal merit.
ABC News reported that experts like former pardon attorney Margaret Love have affirmed that autopen-signed pardons hold the same weight as manual signatures, as long as they reflect the president’s intent.
The New York Post highlighted Trump’s declaration that the pardons are now “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect,” framing it as a bold move against perceived corruption.
Meanwhile, progressive voices on X mocked the focus on autopens as a distraction, comparing it to past political slogans like “But her emails.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has raised the autopen issue; he previously accused Biden aides of using it illegally during a June statement.
Videos from events in March and August show him demonstrating his own manual signatures while contrasting them with Biden’s methods.
As the debate heats up, the Department of Justice has not commented on whether it will review the pardons’ validity. Legal challenges could arise if Trump’s administration pursues action, potentially setting precedents for future presidential powers. For now, the pardons remain in effect, but Trump’s rhetoric signals a willingness to test their boundaries in court.
