Trump Declares Biden’s Pardons ‘Void’ in Late-Night Truth Social Rant

In yet another social media outburst, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social late Sunday night, claiming that President Joe Biden’s pardons of lawmakers who investigated the January 6th insurrection were “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER EFFECT.”

Trump, who spent the weekend golfing at Mar-a-Lago at an estimated taxpayer cost of $3 million, declared that members of the House Select Committee, which examined his role in the Capitol attack, had “deleted ALL evidence” and would now be “subject to investigation at the highest level.”

Trump’s War on J6 Investigators

Biden, in one of his final acts before leaving office, had granted full pardons to individuals targeted by Trump during his campaign—including former Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Liz Cheney (R-WY). At the time, Biden defended his decision, stating:

“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—the mere fact of being investigated can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”

Legal experts were quick to dismiss Trump’s claim that he could unilaterally void the pardons. Constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe called Trump’s statement “delusional,” explaining that “presidential pardons are absolute and cannot be undone by a successor.”

The Autopen Conspiracy

Despite legal precedent, Trump fixated on the idea that Biden never personally signed the pardons, alleging that they were issued via an autopen—a machine used by presidents for decades to replicate their signatures. On Sunday, he pinned a meme to his Truth Social account implying that the autopen, not Biden, had been the real decision-maker in the White House.

“Joe Biden did not sign [the pardons], but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!” Trump wrote. “The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime.”

However, Trump himself used the autopen while in office, a practice that dates back to Harry Truman. The National Archives confirms that multiple presidents have relied on the device for efficiency, particularly for routine documents.

The Legal Reality

While Trump’s social media followers echoed his baseless claims, legal scholars dismissed them outright. According to the Supreme Court, a president’s power to issue pardons is virtually unrestricted, as long as they are for federal offenses. In other words, Trump has no legal authority to revoke Biden’s pardons.

“Trump can rant all he wants, but unless Congress impeaches Biden posthumously or a recipient rejects the pardon, it stands,” said Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general.

Trump’s Retaliation Threats

Trump’s post also included veiled threats against those involved in the January 6th investigation. His call for “highest level” probes into the House committee members aligns with his broader promise to use federal agencies against political opponents.

His rhetoric echoes his earlier campaign promises to “root out” the so-called “deep state” and prosecute individuals who opposed him. Critics, including former Justice Department officials, warn that his threats amount to political persecution.

“This isn’t just about J6,” said Mary McCord, a former DOJ official. “It’s about setting a precedent that presidents can weaponize the justice system against critics. That’s authoritarianism.”

What Comes Next?

While Trump may not have the legal power to revoke pardons, his statements underscore his continued reliance on misinformation and revenge politics. The Biden pardons remain legally binding, and any attempt by Trump to undo them would likely end up in a legal battle destined for the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have already vowed to resist any effort by Trump to use his administration as a tool for political retribution.

“The American people rejected Trump’s chaos once,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). “If he tries to turn the presidency into a weapon against democracy, we will fight back.”

With Trump’s re-election reigniting fears of a second-term power grab, his latest attack on Biden’s pardons may be just the beginning of a much larger constitutional battle.