Which modern U.S. presidents publicly acknowledged using autopens and when did they do so?
Executive summary
Several modern U.S. presidents have publicly acknowledged using autopens for some official and ceremonial tasks: Gerald Ford was openly photographed with one (Shapell), Barack Obama acknowledged using an autopen to sign the 2011 Patriot Act extension while abroad, and recent reporting documents widespread use by presidents including Jefferson through Obama [1]. In 2024–25 the device became politically charged: Joe Biden’s autopen use for short-term legislation and pardons drew scrutiny and was repeatedly attacked by Donald Trump, who in late November 2025 announced he would cancel documents he says Biden signed by autopen; news outlets report the dispute and note longstanding Justice Department guidance that autopen signatures can be lawful for statutes [2] [1] [3] [4] [5].
1. The autopen is an old, bipartisan tool that presidents have used for decades
The autopen — a mechanical pen that reproduces a signature with real ink — traces back to early polygraph devices and was used by Thomas Jefferson; the Shapell Manuscript Foundation says Jefferson bought polygraph-style machines and that presidents have relied on evolutions of the device ever since [1]. Shapell catalogs a chain of presidents who used autopens, and reporting in The Guardian and AP notes the device has been “used by many American presidents” for routine or time-sensitive signatures [1] [3] [5].
2. Explicit, public acknowledgments and visible use: Ford and Obama are documented examples
Gerald Ford publicly allowed the autopen to be photographed and discussed its use in the White House; Lyndon Johnson and others also had public connections to the device, but Ford is named as “open about his utilization” and Johnson famously permitted publicity around it [1]. Barack Obama is specifically reported to have used an autopen while overseas to sign time‑sensitive legislation — including the 2011 Patriot Act extension and an appropriations bill — instances covered by Shapell and contemporary press [1].
3. Biden’s 2024–25 autopen use and the political fallout
Reporting shows Joe Biden used an autopen in May 2024 to sign a one‑week FAA funding extension while traveling, and his autopen use became a focal point in 2025 debates over pardons and executive actions [2] [5]. House Republicans opened investigations in 2025; the Oversight Committee compiled a report alleging widespread autopen use during Biden’s tenure and called for DOJ review [6] [2]. Multiple news outlets documented the controversy and the partisan split over whether autopen signatures indicated lack of presidential involvement or were routine administrative practice [4] [5].
4. Trump’s public statements: escalating a routine practice into a constitutional fight
Donald Trump repeatedly attacked Biden’s autopen use and in November 2025 publicly declared he would cancel documents he asserted were signed with an autopen, claiming a high percentage of Biden’s signatures were automated [7] [8] [4]. Coverage notes Trump’s claims — including a post declaring “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen … is hereby terminated” — and that Trump has framed autopen use as evidence of alleged incapacity or misconduct [7] [8]. Legal analysis cited in reporting emphasizes that presidents have long used autopens, and that past Justice Department guidance permitted autopen use for bills [3] [5].
5. Legal and evidentiary context: what reporting says about validity and limits
Multiple sources point out a 2005 Department of Justice opinion allowing autopen use to sign legislation and note that autopen signatures have been treated as valid in past administrations, but also that political opponents now challenge the practice when it becomes politically useful [3] [5]. News outlets report there is no settled judicial precedent nullifying documents solely because an autopen was used; some commentators and bipartisan historical usage suggest the device’s legitimacy, while congressional investigators argue oversight is warranted [5] [6].
6. Competing narratives and the limits of public reporting
Mainstream outlets document both factual admissions of autopen use (Obama, documented; Ford, photographed) and partisan allegations against Biden [1] [4] [7]. Sources disagree about the implications: defenders stress legality and practicality [3] [1], while critics and the House Oversight Committee argue autopen use can mask improper delegation or abuse [6] [2]. Available sources do not mention a comprehensive list of every modern president who personally admitted autopen use beyond the examples cited here; nor do they provide a singular definitive roster of public admissions (not found in current reporting).
Limitations: this analysis relies on the provided reporting and institutional summaries; assertions are drawn only from those items and do not include outside records or archival research beyond the supplied sources [1] [3] [7] [6] [4] [5].