It’s March 17, 2025, and Donald Trump’s back at it, stirring the pot like only he can. This time, he’s got his sights on Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons those eleventh-hour acts of clemency Biden handed out before leaving office in January. Trump’s claiming they’re “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect,” all because Biden allegedly used an autopen to sign them. You know, that machine that scribbles a signature for you when you’re too busy or, as Trump’s hinting, too checked out to do it yourself. It’s a wild accusation, one that’s got legal nerds, political junkies, and X users buzzing. But is there any meat to it, or is this just Trump tossing red meat to his base? Let’s dive in.
The Spark: A Late-Night Truth Social Rant
Picture this: it’s just past midnight on Sunday, March 16, and Trump’s thumb is flying across his phone. He fires off a post on Truth Social that’s pure Trump caps lock galore, nicknames like “Sleepy Joe,” and a bombshell claim. “The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” he writes. “In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!” He’s talking about the preemptive pardons Biden issued on January 19, his final full day as president, shielding folks like the January 6 committee members, Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley, and even Hunter Biden from potential Trump-era payback.
Trump doesn’t stop there. He doubles down, suggesting the documents “were not explained to, or approved by, Biden,” and that whoever pulled the trigger on the autopen “may have committed a crime.” It’s a one-two punch: the pardons are fake, and the people behind them are shady. By Sunday afternoon, he’s on Air Force One, chatting with reporters and softening the edge just a bit: “It’s not my decision that’ll be up to a court but I would say they’re null and void.” The message? He’s tossing this hot potato to the judiciary, but he’s already lit the fuse.
What’s an Autopen, Anyway?
If you’re scratching your head about this autopen thing, here’s the deal: it’s a gadget that’s been around since Thomas Jefferson’s day (he called it a polygraph). It’s basically a robotic arm that copies your signature, letting you “sign” stacks of papers without lifting a pen. Presidents have used it forever Harry Truman was a fan, JFK leaned on it, and Barack Obama made history in 2011 by using it to sign a Patriot Act extension from France. It’s a time-saver, a bureaucratic buddy, and totally legal. The Justice Department said back in 2005 that a president doesn’t have to physically sign anything ordering a staffer to slap an autopen signature on is fine. Last year, a federal appeals court even ruled pardons don’t need to be written at all, let alone signed by hand. So, on paper, Trump’s got a steep hill to climb.
But here’s where it gets juicy. Trump’s not just saying Biden used an autopen he’s implying Biden was out of the loop, that some rogue aide was running the show. It’s a conspiracy theory with legs, fueled by a Heritage Foundation report from last week that claimed Biden’s signatures on these pardons look identical, suggesting mechanical mischief. The Oversight Project, a Heritage offshoot, even posted on X: “Whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency.” Trump’s eating it up, pinning a meme to his Truth Social with his portrait flanking an autopen labeled “Biden’s term.” It’s theatrical, it’s meme-worthy, and it’s got his fans cheering.
The Pardons in Question
Let’s back up to what Trump’s so mad about. On January 19, Biden dropped a flurry of pardons some say thousands, though the big ones grabbed the headlines. He preemptively pardoned the nine members of the House January 6 committee (think Liz Cheney, Adam Schiff, Jamie Raskin) who dug into Trump’s role in the Capitol riot. He also covered Fauci, the COVID-era lightning rod; Milley, the ex-Joint Chiefs chair Trump’s clashed with; and a handful of Biden family members, including Hunter, whose gun and tax convictions got wiped clean in December. Biden’s reasoning? Protection. He said these folks public servants and kin alike faced “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions” from a vengeful Trump administration looming on the horizon.
It was a bold move, and it pissed off a lot of people. Critics called it a power grab, a blanket immunity for Biden’s allies. The January 6 crew didn’t even want the pardons Bennie Thompson, the committee chair, told Axios, “I’m not afraid of Trump’s latest midnight rant.” But Biden insisted it wasn’t about guilt; it was about shielding them from “retribution.” Trump’s been itching to go after these folks he’s called Cheney a traitor and floated “televised military tribunals” for her so Biden’s preemptive strike makes sense in that light. Still, the autopen twist? That’s where Trump’s trying to flip the script.
Does Trump Have a Case?
Legally, this is shaky ground. The Constitution gives presidents near-total pardon power Article II, Section 2 says they can grant clemency for federal offenses, no strings attached. There’s no rule about pens, no clause saying it’s gotta be handwritten. Precedents back this up: the 1929 Justice Department opinion, the 2005 Bush-era ruling, the 2024 appeals court decision all say the president’s intent matters, not the ink. If Biden said, “Pardon these people,” and an aide hit the autopen button, it’s still his call. Stephen Gillers, a law prof at NYU, told Newsweek flat-out: “The Constitution has no writing requirement at all.” Peter Shane, another legal eagle, added, “Biden’s statement explaining the pardons makes clear they are his official acts.”
Trump’s real angle seems to be the “Biden didn’t know” bit. If he can prove someone else freelanced these pardons say, an aide with an agenda maybe there’s a crack to pry open. But where’s the evidence? The Heritage report points to matching signatures, but that’s not proof of a conspiracy; it’s just how autopens work. A New York Post story cited an anonymous Biden staffer claiming unilateral decisions, but without names or hard proof, it’s thin gruel. Biden’s team hasn’t commented, and there’s photo evidence of him signing some documents by hand. Unless Trump’s got a smoking gun like a whistleblower or a memo he’s swinging at shadows.
The Politics of Revenge
This isn’t just about law; it’s about payback. Trump’s been gunning for the January 6 committee since they aired his dirty laundry in 2022. He’s called their probe a “witch hunt,” accused them of trashing evidence (a claim that’s been debated), and now he’s got a shot to settle scores. Declaring the pardons void is step one step two could be investigations or prosecutions, though he’d need the Justice Department to play ball. On X, his base is hyped: “Trump’s dropping truth bombs!” one user posted. Critics, though, see a dictator flexing: “He can’t just make up sh*t,” another wrote. It’s a culture war flare-up, with autopens as the unlikely spark.
Biden’s camp isn’t sweating it yet. The pardons are done delivered, accepted, final. Experts like Jeffrey Crouch at American University say Trump’d lose in court: “As long as a pardon is valid, it’s final.” Kimberly Wehle, a pardon power guru, agrees but warns the legal fight itself could be the point drag Cheney and co. through the mud, even if it’s a long shot. That’s Trump’s MO: win or lose, make noise.
What’s Next?
This is headed for a showdown. Trump’s hinted at a court challenge, but he’s got no clear path maybe an executive order, maybe a DOJ probe. If it hits the Supreme Court, the conservative lean might give him an edge, though precedent’s against him. For now, it’s a war of words. Biden’s legacy, Trump’s vendetta, and a little machine called an autopen are at the center. Whatever happens, it’s peak 2025 chaos and we’re just getting started.
The Spark: A Late-Night Truth Social Rant
Picture this: it’s just past midnight on Sunday, March 16, and Trump’s thumb is flying across his phone. He fires off a post on Truth Social that’s pure Trump caps lock galore, nicknames like “Sleepy Joe,” and a bombshell claim. “The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” he writes. “In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!” He’s talking about the preemptive pardons Biden issued on January 19, his final full day as president, shielding folks like the January 6 committee members, Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley, and even Hunter Biden from potential Trump-era payback.
Trump doesn’t stop there. He doubles down, suggesting the documents “were not explained to, or approved by, Biden,” and that whoever pulled the trigger on the autopen “may have committed a crime.” It’s a one-two punch: the pardons are fake, and the people behind them are shady. By Sunday afternoon, he’s on Air Force One, chatting with reporters and softening the edge just a bit: “It’s not my decision that’ll be up to a court but I would say they’re null and void.” The message? He’s tossing this hot potato to the judiciary, but he’s already lit the fuse.
What’s an Autopen, Anyway?
If you’re scratching your head about this autopen thing, here’s the deal: it’s a gadget that’s been around since Thomas Jefferson’s day (he called it a polygraph). It’s basically a robotic arm that copies your signature, letting you “sign” stacks of papers without lifting a pen. Presidents have used it forever Harry Truman was a fan, JFK leaned on it, and Barack Obama made history in 2011 by using it to sign a Patriot Act extension from France. It’s a time-saver, a bureaucratic buddy, and totally legal. The Justice Department said back in 2005 that a president doesn’t have to physically sign anything ordering a staffer to slap an autopen signature on is fine. Last year, a federal appeals court even ruled pardons don’t need to be written at all, let alone signed by hand. So, on paper, Trump’s got a steep hill to climb.
But here’s where it gets juicy. Trump’s not just saying Biden used an autopen he’s implying Biden was out of the loop, that some rogue aide was running the show. It’s a conspiracy theory with legs, fueled by a Heritage Foundation report from last week that claimed Biden’s signatures on these pardons look identical, suggesting mechanical mischief. The Oversight Project, a Heritage offshoot, even posted on X: “Whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency.” Trump’s eating it up, pinning a meme to his Truth Social with his portrait flanking an autopen labeled “Biden’s term.” It’s theatrical, it’s meme-worthy, and it’s got his fans cheering.
The Pardons in Question
Let’s back up to what Trump’s so mad about. On January 19, Biden dropped a flurry of pardons some say thousands, though the big ones grabbed the headlines. He preemptively pardoned the nine members of the House January 6 committee (think Liz Cheney, Adam Schiff, Jamie Raskin) who dug into Trump’s role in the Capitol riot. He also covered Fauci, the COVID-era lightning rod; Milley, the ex-Joint Chiefs chair Trump’s clashed with; and a handful of Biden family members, including Hunter, whose gun and tax convictions got wiped clean in December. Biden’s reasoning? Protection. He said these folks public servants and kin alike faced “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions” from a vengeful Trump administration looming on the horizon.
It was a bold move, and it pissed off a lot of people. Critics called it a power grab, a blanket immunity for Biden’s allies. The January 6 crew didn’t even want the pardons Bennie Thompson, the committee chair, told Axios, “I’m not afraid of Trump’s latest midnight rant.” But Biden insisted it wasn’t about guilt; it was about shielding them from “retribution.” Trump’s been itching to go after these folks he’s called Cheney a traitor and floated “televised military tribunals” for her so Biden’s preemptive strike makes sense in that light. Still, the autopen twist? That’s where Trump’s trying to flip the script.
Does Trump Have a Case?
Legally, this is shaky ground. The Constitution gives presidents near-total pardon power Article II, Section 2 says they can grant clemency for federal offenses, no strings attached. There’s no rule about pens, no clause saying it’s gotta be handwritten. Precedents back this up: the 1929 Justice Department opinion, the 2005 Bush-era ruling, the 2024 appeals court decision all say the president’s intent matters, not the ink. If Biden said, “Pardon these people,” and an aide hit the autopen button, it’s still his call. Stephen Gillers, a law prof at NYU, told Newsweek flat-out: “The Constitution has no writing requirement at all.” Peter Shane, another legal eagle, added, “Biden’s statement explaining the pardons makes clear they are his official acts.”
Trump’s real angle seems to be the “Biden didn’t know” bit. If he can prove someone else freelanced these pardons say, an aide with an agenda maybe there’s a crack to pry open. But where’s the evidence? The Heritage report points to matching signatures, but that’s not proof of a conspiracy; it’s just how autopens work. A New York Post story cited an anonymous Biden staffer claiming unilateral decisions, but without names or hard proof, it’s thin gruel. Biden’s team hasn’t commented, and there’s photo evidence of him signing some documents by hand. Unless Trump’s got a smoking gun like a whistleblower or a memo he’s swinging at shadows.
The Politics of Revenge
This isn’t just about law; it’s about payback. Trump’s been gunning for the January 6 committee since they aired his dirty laundry in 2022. He’s called their probe a “witch hunt,” accused them of trashing evidence (a claim that’s been debated), and now he’s got a shot to settle scores. Declaring the pardons void is step one step two could be investigations or prosecutions, though he’d need the Justice Department to play ball. On X, his base is hyped: “Trump’s dropping truth bombs!” one user posted. Critics, though, see a dictator flexing: “He can’t just make up sh*t,” another wrote. It’s a culture war flare-up, with autopens as the unlikely spark.
Biden’s camp isn’t sweating it yet. The pardons are done delivered, accepted, final. Experts like Jeffrey Crouch at American University say Trump’d lose in court: “As long as a pardon is valid, it’s final.” Kimberly Wehle, a pardon power guru, agrees but warns the legal fight itself could be the point drag Cheney and co. through the mud, even if it’s a long shot. That’s Trump’s MO: win or lose, make noise.
What’s Next?
This is headed for a showdown. Trump’s hinted at a court challenge, but he’s got no clear path maybe an executive order, maybe a DOJ probe. If it hits the Supreme Court, the conservative lean might give him an edge, though precedent’s against him. For now, it’s a war of words. Biden’s legacy, Trump’s vendetta, and a little machine called an autopen are at the center. Whatever happens, it’s peak 2025 chaos and we’re just getting started.
