Behind the Oval Office Doors: The Autopen Question That Won’t Go Away
A quiet unease has been simmering beneath the gleaming surface of the Oval Office — and it’s more than just political theater. Rumors are swirling: Did President Joe Biden truly sign every executive order himself?
Or was a mechanical stand-in quietly at work? Former President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Biden relied heavily on an autopen — a device that replicates signatures — has unleashed a storm of speculation.
The technology itself is legal, but the unsettling question emerging now is this: if Biden’s hand wasn’t always on the pen, who was really calling the shots?
A Provocative Claim Ignites Debate
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It all began with one provocative statement. Donald Trump suggested, without concrete proof, that many of Biden’s executive orders weren’t personally signed by the president, but instead by an autopen machine.
This accusation is less about legality — which the Justice Department confirms is permitted when authorized — and more about trust and control. Trump, long skeptical of Biden’s capacity to lead, pressed his supporters to question: “If someone else is signing those documents, who truly holds the reins in the Oval Office?”
Biden’s Firm Rebuttal
Not one to be sidelined, Biden responded swiftly in an ABC News interview. He emphatically stated:
“I personally made every decision during my administration. Executive orders, proclamations, legislation, pardons — I signed them all with my own hand. The suggestion otherwise is not only false, it’s ridiculous.”
Biden also dismissed renewed calls for cognitive testing — labeling them a “political distraction.”
The Autopen: Legal, But Symbolically Loaded
.@POTUS on Joe Biden: “What he did to this country was disgraceful… and we’re fixing it step by step… the people who ran this country were Radical Left lunatics… they could do anything they wanted because the autopen was the power.” pic.twitter.com/60fKM44dp1
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 11, 2025
Autopen devices have been quietly woven into presidential history for decades. Used primarily for routine tasks — especially when presidents are traveling — their legality is well established, with explicit authorization required.
Yet in today’s hyper-scrutinized political environment, the idea of a machine signing orders touches a nerve. It raises deeper concerns about presidential engagement and the optics of leadership, fueling doubts far beyond the question of legality.
From Compassion to Confrontation
Interestingly, Trump showed a moment of grace in 2024 when Biden’s cancer diagnosis was announced, offering his well-wishes and prayers for recovery. But as the political climate hardens and the 2028 election cycle gains momentum, that civility has given way to pointed attacks and renewed scrutiny.
Peter Doocy reports on a new investigation from the DOJ, this one lead by Ed Martin, involving whether Former President Joe Biden was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through the use of auto pen. pic.twitter.com/l5FK6a9TUD
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) June 3, 2025
Whether or not the autopen claims hold water, Trump’s remarks have reignited skepticism, shaping a narrative where the question of who signs the orders becomes a proxy for who truly governs.
The Broader Battle for Trust and Control
As political tensions mount, the autopen controversy shines a light on a larger conflict — not just over policy or personality, but over leadership legitimacy itself. Biden maintains he was in full control, yet Trump’s assertions resonate with those already questioning the president’s fitness and transparency.
In an era where perception can outweigh policy, the battle between these two figures is as much about trust as it is about governance. Their struggle isn’t merely for power — it’s a fight for the confidence of the American people, with every signature under scrutiny.