WASHINGTON D.C. — In one of the most sweeping and controversial legal maneuvers of his presidency, President Donald Trump has announced plans to unilaterally nullify hundreds of Executive Orders issued by former President Joe Biden
The justification? The Trump administration claims these orders are constitutionally invalid because Biden did not physically sign them, allegedly relying instead on an “autopen”—a mechanical device used to replicate a signature.
The “Phantom Decree” Argument
Speaking during a charged press availability in the Rose Garden this afternoon, President Trump slammed his predecessor’s administrative record as illegitimate.
Holding up a magnified graphic showing side-by-side comparisons of Biden’s signatures, Trump argued that the use of a mechanical arm to sign policy into law was a dereliction of duty.
“Joe Biden didn’t sign these. A machine signed them. A robot,” Trump told reporters. “You cannot have a robot running the United States government. If the President doesn’t touch pen to paper, it is not a law. These are phantom decrees, and as of today, we are marking them void.”
What is an Autopen?
An autopen is a machine used for decades by high-ranking officials, including presidents from both parties, to sign routine correspondence, certificates, and sometimes legislation when they are traveling.
However, the legal consensus has generally been that for significant Executive actions carrying the force of law, a personal, physical signature is required to demonstrate the President’s direct intent. Trump’s legal team is now leveraging this grey area, arguing that any Biden order signed mechanically is null and void ab initio—meaning it never legally existed.
Massive Policy Implications
If successful, this maneuver could instantly wipe out years of Democratic policy without the need for lengthy regulatory reviews or Congressional votes.
Sources inside the White House indicate the initial wave of cancellations targets Biden-era orders related to:
Climate Change: Rejoining international climate accords and domestic environmental regulations.
Student Loan Forgiveness: Mechanisms established to facilitate debt relief.
Labor Unions: Protections for federal worker organizing.
A Legal Battlefield Ahead
The announcement has triggered immediate outrage from Democrats and legal scholars, who called the move a “gimmick” and a “power grab.” Immediate challenges are expected to be filed in federal courts as early as tomorrow morning. critics argue that even if an autopen was used, Biden clearly intended for the orders to be enacted, and that Trump is weaponizing a technicality to bypass the democratic process.
The coming weeks will likely see a historic constitutional battle over a question the Founders never anticipated: Does a President actually have to hold the pen?
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