Former President Joe Biden relied heavily on the use of an autopen, a machine that mechanically replicates a signature, to sign official documents during his presidency. This raises serious questions about his awareness, mental capacity, and the legitimacy of his administration’s actions.
The controversy emerged this month, when the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project claimed that nearly all documents bearing Biden’s signature from his four-year term used an identical autopen signature. An exception which featured a different signature, was his July 2024 letter announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, they noted. This discrepancy has fueled speculation about who truly controlled the White House during Biden’s tenure, with numerous critics now suggesting that un-elected staff may have wielded undue influence.
The Oversight Project’s investigation asserted that it reviewed “every document we could find with Biden’s signature” and found consistent use of the autopen on executive orders, pardons, and other official directives. These signatures, typically a straight line followed by “R. Biden Jr.,” appeared identical across documents, contrasting with the “J.R. Biden” signature on his withdrawal letter. The group argued that this pattern suggested Biden may not have personally signed or even approved many key decisions.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, seized on the findings to demand a Department of Justice investigation. Bailey argued that if Biden’s mental decline allowed un-elected aides to enact policies without his knowledge, those actions, including executive orders and pardons, could be unconstitutional and “ legally void .” He pointed to anecdotes like House Speaker Mike Johnson’s claim that Biden didn’t recall signing a 2024 order pausing liquefied natural gas exports, suggesting a broader pattern of detachment.
This could spark countless legal battles over Biden’s entire presidency, though no court has definitively ruled on the constitutionality of autopen signatures. George W. Bush sought but didn’t use a DOJ opinion approving it.
The autopen itself isn’t new, presidents such as Harry Truman, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump have used it for convenience, especially for mass correspondence or when physically absent. However, the scale of Biden’s alleged reliance has sparked unique concern, particularly given persistent questions about his cognitive health.
During his tenure in office, Biden faced scrutiny over gaffes, public stumbles, and moments of apparent confusion, such as needing guidance from world leaders at public events. His shaky debate performance in 2024 and subsequent exit from the race only amplified concerns.The optics of not physically signing countless documents only further tarnishes Biden’s legacy, painting him as an easily manipulated mentally diminished figurehead.