Trump orders probe into Biden autopen use, alleging aides misled public about executive authority and mental fitness.

Trump Directs DOJ to Investigate Autopen Scandal

President Donald Trump has launched a formal investigation into the Biden administration’s use of an autopen, claiming it was used to mask cognitive decline and misrepresent presidential authority. Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said the practice was “illegal” and “disrespectful,” adding that whoever used the autopen “was the president, and that is wrong.”

The investigation was triggered by a memo Trump sent Wednesday to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The document alleges a coordinated effort by Biden aides to issue key executive orders and actions without the former president's direct involvement. Trump’s directive states that the misuse of the autopen enabled staffers to enact radical policies while deceiving the public about Biden’s cognitive state and constitutional role.

“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” Trump wrote. “The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power.”

Biden Dismisses Allegations as “Ridiculous”

Former President Joe Biden quickly responded to the memo Wednesday evening, calling the claims “ridiculous” and politically motivated. “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency,” Biden stated. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is false. This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.”

Biden further criticized the GOP, accusing them of using the controversy to divert attention from legislation he claims would harm essential programs like Medicaid while benefiting wealthy individuals and large corporations.

Trump Criticizes Autopen for Official Use

Continuing his remarks on Thursday, Trump emphasized that autopens are meant for mass correspondence, not for signing consequential presidential actions. He stated that even ambassadorship appointments deserve an authentic signature out of respect for the individuals involved.

“You have somebody that’s devoting four years of their life or more to being an ambassador,” Trump said. “That person deserves to get a real signature, not an autopen signature.”

Trump explained that autopen signatures are mechanically applied and identifiable by “two little pinholes” on the paper. He said the White House receives thousands of letters weekly and autopens are acceptable only for personal replies to general correspondence—not for executive orders or pardons.

Allegations Trigger Renewed Scrutiny

The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project first raised the issue earlier in 2025, pointing to identical signatures on multiple executive orders and other key documents. The signature on Biden’s formal announcement withdrawing from the 2024 race also reportedly differed from the machine-generated versions, further fueling speculation.

These revelations prompted questions about whether Biden’s staff, rather than the president himself, approved and enacted pivotal policy decisions. Trump’s Justice Department is now tasked with determining whether these actions amount to a violation of constitutional norms and whether criminal charges are warranted.

As the investigation proceeds, the controversy is expected to dominate political discourse, raising broader questions about transparency, presidential accountability, and the boundaries of executive delegation. The Biden camp remains firm in its dismissal of the allegations, but Trump’s administration appears committed to uncovering what it views as a constitutional breach of the highest order.