In a light-hearted moment at the White House’s annual Easter Egg Roll, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to joke about his successor, President Joe Biden. The event, held on April 6, 2023, featured Trump mingling with children, sharing laughter, and even signing their drawings as part of the festivities.
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As he engaged with the children, Trump made a playful remark about autograph sales, suggesting that the youngsters could potentially sell his signature on eBay for a substantial sum. “I could sign autographs for you guys. And then tonight, you could sell them for £20,000 on eBay,” he quipped, eliciting cheers from the excited crowd.
Amidst this jovial atmosphere, Trump further animated the conversation by referencing his repeated allegations regarding Biden’s use of an autopen—a device that reproduces a signatory’s handwriting. In a mock-serious tone, Trump claimed, “He didn’t sign; he was incapable of signing his name, so they’d follow him around with a big machine.” This claim, while entrenched in controversy, was delivered as a comedic jab in the presence of young admirers.
The Republican former president continued his jest, revealing his intention to sign one of the drawings that caught his eye. “I’m going to sign this, that way I’ll say I drew it,” Trump said with a smile, showcasing his typical bravado. However, he quickly shifted back to his criticisms of Biden, reiterating his stance that the current president relied on an autopen instead of signing documents personally.
Trump’s comments on the autopen have stirred debate, with many arguing that the use of such a device is a common practice among past presidents. Nevertheless, Trump persisted in portraying Biden’s reported reliance on the machine as an improper act. “He’d take the paper, hand it to his guys, sign it with an autopen and give it back. That’s not too good, right?” he remarked, hinting at what he perceives to be a lack of authenticity in Biden’s presidency.
This criticism has surfaced repeatedly, even as Trump suggests that Biden’s usage of the autopen violates some ethical or legal standards. During a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump expressed his thoughts, portraying Biden as someone who was not in control of his decisions. “Joe Biden wasn’t giving those orders… The autopen was illegal,” Trump claimed, asserting that it was not right for a president to rely on such technology excessively.
In a controversial display of his feelings toward Biden, Trump notably omitted the current president’s photograph from his “Presidential Walk of Fame”, replacing it with an image of the autopen instead. This act echoed a meme shared by Trump in March 2025, where he framed his own autopen signature between his presidential portraits while excluding Biden’s likeness altogether.
President Biden, for his part, has defended the use of the autopen, particularly while finalising pardons at the end of his presidency. In a July 2025 interview with The New York Times, he stated, “The autopen is, you know, legal. As you know, other presidents used it, including Trump.” This counterargument seeks to validate a common practice rather than an indictment of Biden’s capabilities.
Moreover, the ongoing discourse surrounding pardons has seen Trump cast doubt on their legitimacy. In a recent Truth Social post, he declared that Biden’s pardons were “void,” despite legal experts noting that eliminating such pardons is simply not within Trump’s power.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, both sides remain entrenched in their viewpoints, often using public forums to amplify their messages. While Trump’s comments were made in a jovial setting, the underlying tension regarding presidential conduct, transparency, and the role of technology in governance is undoubtedly a significant backdrop to these exchanges.