President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery critique of Joe Biden’s autopen usage, branding it a scandal of historic proportions.
The Washington Examiner reported that in a rare White House interview, Trump accused Biden of signing major legislation without full awareness, a charge that reeks of irony given Trump’s own documented use of the device.
Trump, speaking Monday, didn’t mince words, calling Biden’s autopen reliance “one of the biggest scandals” in decades. He claimed Biden “knew nothing” about the documents he signed, suggesting a White House run amok with unchecked aides.
This accusation, while bold, conveniently sidesteps the fact that autopens are standard practice, even in Trump’s own administration.
Biden, in his first interview since taking office in 2021, fired back in the New York Times, defending his use of the autopen for clemency actions. He argued it was necessary due to the sheer volume of cases, a pragmatic move for a leader juggling a packed agenda.
Yet, Trump’s critique paints this as a dodge of responsibility, a narrative that resonates with those skeptical of bureaucratic overreach.
Trump doubled down, insisting that autopens shouldn’t be used for major legislation. His point carries weight for those who value the symbolic gravity of a president’s signature. But the outrage feels selective, given Biden’s reminder that Trump himself leaned on the same technology.
Alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump took swipes at Biden’s team, accusing them of “freewheeling” and pushing progressive policies like “open borders” and “transgender for everyone.” These remarks, dripping with MAGA flair, aim to rally a base wary of unchecked liberalism. Yet, they risk alienating moderates who see such rhetoric as divisive overreach.
“They’re going to figure it out, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said of escalating congressional inquiries into his own administration.
The comment, vague yet defiant, underscores the political chess game unfolding. Republicans, he implied, are fighting a rear-guard action against a radical left he claims has hijacked the White House.
Biden, unruffled, laid out his clemency strategy, emphasizing he set clear criteria for pardons and commutations. “I made every single one of those,” he told the New York Times, dismissing Trump’s jabs. His confidence, though, may not sway critics who see the autopen as a shortcut around accountability.
“I laid out a strategy how I want to go about these,” Biden said of his pardon process. He described a system balancing broad guidelines with case-specific decisions, a methodical approach meant to streamline justice. Still, Trump’s narrative of a disengaged Biden could stick for voters craving hands-on leadership.
“The autopen is, you know, is legal,” Biden added, noting its use by other presidents, including Trump. This jab undercuts Trump’s moralizing, exposing a shared reliance on the tool. It’s a clever deflection, but it doesn’t erase questions about whether Biden’s system sacrifices scrutiny for efficiency.
Congressional investigations into Trump’s administration loomed large during his interview, adding fuel to the feud. Trump framed these probes as distractions, while Biden called them “crazy” and accused Republicans of lying to shift focus from their own missteps. The mutual finger-pointing reveals a Washington mired in partisan trench warfare.
“They’ve lied so consistently about almost everything,” Biden said of the GOP’s tactics. He suggested the investigations are a desperate pivot from Republican failures, a charge that resonates with those tired of political gamesmanship. Yet, it risks sounding like a dodge from a president under pressure to deliver.
Trump, ever the showman, tied his critique to broader stakes, claiming, “If I didn’t win, our country was finished.” Spoken beside Rutte, the remark aimed to cast Trump as a global bulwark against chaos. It’s a grandiose flex, but one that could falter if voters see it as more bluster than substance.
Biden’s acknowledgment of the autopen’s legality—“As you know, other presidents used it, including Trump”—puts Trump on the defensive.
It’s a sharp reminder that the tool isn’t the issue; the real fight is over optics and trust. Conservatives may still bristle at Biden’s reliance, seeing it as emblematic of a detached elite.
“They’ve had a pretty good thing going here,” Biden said, accusing Republicans of deflecting from their own record. His words carry a sting, framing the GOP as opportunists exploiting the autopen flap to dodge accountability. But this risks backfiring if voters view Biden’s defense as dismissive of legitimate concerns.
