WASHINGTON, D.C., August 26, 2025 — President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by labeling pardons issued by former President Joe Biden as “worthless,” alleging they were signed via autopen without Biden’s direct approval. Speaking at a Monday press conference, Trump claimed the pardons, granted to figures like Hunter Biden and January 6 defendants, lack legal validity due to procedural flaws. The assertion, echoed by White House aides, has prompted the Justice Department to review the pardons’ legitimacy, with Attorney General Pam Bondi signaling potential challenges.
Legal scholars are divided. The Constitution grants presidents broad pardon power, but critics argue autopen use—common in modern administrations—could raise questions if Biden was incapacitated or unaware, as Trump alleges. No evidence confirms Biden’s disengagement, and a 2021 DOJ opinion supports autopen pardons if the president authorizes them. Biden’s team insists all pardons, including 1,500 commutations and 39 pardons in December 2024, followed protocol. Supporters of Trump’s stance, however, see it as a bold move to undo what they call politically motivated clemency for “unpatriotic” figures.
Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, decry the claim as a distraction from Trump’s own controversial pardons, like those for 2020 election allies. The dispute risks escalating tensions, with courts likely to decide the pardons’ fate. As the 2026 midterms loom, Trump’s rhetoric fuels debates over executive power and accountability.
