Donald Trump has announced he will cancel all executive orders signed by his predecessor Joe Biden using an autopen, escalating his baseless claims that Biden was not in control of his own administration. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect.” He further alleged without evidence that “the Radical Left Lunatics circling Biden … took the Presidency away from him” and that others had signed documents on Biden’s behalf.
Trump has repeatedly belittled Biden and questioned his mental fitness, often suggesting that aides forged his signature using an autopen. However, autopens have been used by presidents for decades, including by Trump himself. Legal experts doubt Trump can unilaterally nullify Biden’s orders, as there is no evidence of any impropriety.
Meanwhile, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has halted all asylum decisions, with director Joseph Edlow stating: “USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” The State Department also announced an immediate pause on visa issuance for Afghan passport holders, citing national security.
In other developments, a Ukrainian delegation is heading to the US for further peace talks, including senior security official Rustem Umerov and first deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya. They are expected to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Florida. This follows the resignation of Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, after anti-corruption raids on his apartment.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department would cut off federal benefits to “illegal aliens”, restricting them to US citizens only. He stated: “If you’re here illegally, there’s no place for you in our financial system.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly gave a spoken directive during a US strike in the Caribbean to “leave no survivors”, according to the Washington Post.
