In a fiery Truth Social post on May 28, 2025, President Donald Trump accused unnamed officials who operated President Joe Biden’s autopen of “almost destroy[ing] our country” and demanded they face imprisonment. The provocative statement, targeting the use of an automated signature device during Biden’s final months in office, has reignited debates over executive accountability and Trump’s aggressive rhetoric. As his second term intensifies scrutiny of the previous administration, the claim has sparked both outrage and support, amplifying divisions in an already polarized political landscape.
Trump’s post specifically referenced the autopen, a device used to replicate Biden’s signature on documents like executive orders and proclamations. While its use is standard—dating back to the Eisenhower era—Trump alleged it masked Biden’s incapacity, enabling aides to push policies without oversight. “They signed away billions with a robot pen while Joe slept,” he wrote, pointing to $93 billion in last-minute Department of Energy loans flagged by Sen. John Kennedy. “These people should be in jail!” The accusation aligns with Trump’s narrative that Biden’s administration was a “deep state” operation, a theme echoed by supporters on X, with
@PamBondiNewsX posting, “Trump’s exposing the fraud!”
Critics dismiss the claim as inflammatory hyperbole. Legal scholar Joyce Vance told CNN that autopen use is “routine and legal,” governed by strict protocols requiring presidential authorization. A 2021 Justice Department memo confirms aides can operate it with approval, and no evidence suggests Biden’s team acted unlawfully. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called Trump’s remarks a “distraction” from pressing issues like inflation, noting that his own administration used an autopen for ceremonial documents. “He’s chasing conspiracies instead of governing,” she said on MSNBC.
The $93 billion DOE loans, rushed out before Biden’s exit, fuel Trump’s case. Energy Secretary Chris Wright admitted to “lax oversight,” and DOGE, led by Elon Musk, is auditing the funds. However, no criminal charges have been filed, and a 2024 SSA report clarified that improper payments were mostly administrative errors, not fraud. On X, critics like
@EconWatchdog argue Trump’s “jail” rhetoric lacks evidence, while supporters, including
@EricLDaugh, demand investigations, citing a 52% “right track” Rasmussen poll as proof of public backing.
The call for jail time raises legal questions. Prosecuting autopen operators would require proving intent to defraud, a high bar absent concrete evidence. Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist, has not signaled plans to pursue such cases, focusing instead on deportations and fraud probes. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling limits executive overreach, potentially complicating any DOJ action. Still, Trump’s base, energized by his +20 Hispanic approval rating, sees the rhetoric as a bold stand against perceived corruption.
The controversy underscores Trump’s strategy of leveraging past grievances to rally supporters. As DOGE pushes $2 trillion in spending cuts, his attacks on Biden’s legacy—amplified by figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—keep the narrative alive. Yet, with 62% of Republicans in a May 2025 YouGov poll backing his agenda, critics warn that inflammatory calls for imprisonment risk further eroding trust in institutions.
