Posted for: Rotorblade
President Donald Trump on Thursday alleged that a staff member in the Biden administration who used the controversial autopen to sign official documents did so without direct orders from President Joe Biden.
Speaking during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump addressed growing scrutiny over the autopen’s use in the final months of Biden’s presidency. Critics have questioned whether Biden was fully aware of the documents being signed in his name, including a series of high-profile pardons.
According to Trump, the staff member in question had minimal interaction with Biden and was taking instructions from others. “He only spoke to Biden twice—and just about the weather,” Trump said. “He wasn’t getting orders from Biden. Joe wasn’t giving those orders.”
Trump went on to suggest that Biden had previously held more moderate views, particularly on border policy, implying that others within the administration were driving decisions. “Joe Biden didn’t believe in open borders,” Trump said. “He was never the brightest bulb, but even he didn’t buy into what’s happening now.”
Trump also criticized the use of the autopen as “illegal,” claiming Biden directly signed very few documents—allegedly including only the pardon for his son, Hunter Biden.
REPORTER: Is there any update on the autopen?@POTUS: “Yeah. It’s just gotten worse from their standpoint…
…It was totally illegal what [Biden] did, and I hope it’s going to be so adjudged.” pic.twitter.com/pWxIC6FUM4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 18, 2025
The former president then pivoted to the January 6 Capitol investigation, alleging that members of the House panel had destroyed evidence after learning of their own potential culpability. “They deleted everything,” Trump claimed. “They found out that Nancy Pelosi was offered 10,000 troops and turned them down. They covered it up.”
Trump accused the Biden administration of issuing pardons to protect those involved in the House inquiry. “They gave pardons to the congresspeople and their staff,” he said. “I don’t think Biden even knew what was going on, but someone did.”
He concluded with a sharp critique of the White House staff allegedly behind the autopen decisions. “They’re very smart people—probably brilliant—but they’re sick in ideology. What they did was totally illegal, and I hope it will be ruled that way.”