President Joe Biden has strongly responded to recent remarks by former President Donald Trump, who suggested that Biden may not have personally signed all executive orders during his time in office. Trump claimed that an autopen—a device that replicates a person’s signature—might have been used to sign official documents without Biden’s direct involvement. Speaking to his supporters, Trump questioned, “What does it say about the man in the Oval Office if someone else is signing executive orders for him?”
While Trump did not provide concrete evidence, the statement quickly gained attention among critics who have questioned Biden’s leadership. The remarks appear to be a rhetorical strategy aimed at casting doubt, a tactic Trump has often used during his political career.
Biden dismissed the claims as unfounded and misleading. In an interview with ABC News, he stated, “To be clear, I made the decisions during my presidency. Every proclamation, every executive order, every pardon—I reviewed, approved, and authorized. The idea that someone else did it on my behalf is simply not true.” He further described calls for a mental fitness investigation as “a distraction intended to generate headlines, not facts.”
Legally, the use of an autopen is not unprecedented nor prohibited. The Department of Justice has clarified that autopen use is permitted when the president explicitly authorizes it. Past presidents have used the device, particularly when traveling or unable to sign documents in person. However, Trump’s comments focus less on legality and more on public perception, raising questions about Biden’s control over his duties.
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