In a fiery Truth Social post on Monday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the presidential pardons granted by his predecessor, Joe Biden, to members of the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack were “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.”

The committee, which Trump referred to as the “Unselect Committee of Political Thugs,” was originally formed to investigate the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump justified his decision to invalidate the pardons by alleging that they had been signed using an autopen—a device that automatically reproduces a person’s signature—rather than being personally approved by Biden.

Trump’s Allegations Against Biden

Trump asserted that Biden had not personally signed off on the pardons and may not have even been aware of them. He went on to accuse members of Biden’s administration of orchestrating the pardons without proper authorization, suggesting that those involved in drafting, approving, and signing the documents “may have committed a crime.”

Trump also warned that the January 6 Committee members “should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level.” He accused them of using their power to shield themselves and others from legal scrutiny and insisted that their actions would not go unchecked under his leadership.

Trump concluded his post by labeling Biden as the “worst President in the history” of the United States, further escalating tensions between the current administration and its predecessor.

Mocking Biden Over Autopen Usage

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump shared an image featuring three presidential portraits representing the last three U.S. administrations. The first and third portraits were of Trump himself, while the middle portrait—meant to represent Biden—was replaced by an autopen.

The post was quickly pinned to Trump’s profile and gained traction as Vice President JD Vance and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shared it on X (formerly Twitter), further fueling online discussions over Biden’s use of the autopen.

Background on the January 6 Committee

The U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack was established in July 2021 and was disbanded at the start of 2023. The committee included seven Democrats and two Republicans, such as Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson, Zoe Lofgren, Pete Aguilar, Stephanie Murphy, Jamie Raskin, Elaine Luria, and Adam Kinzinger.

While the committee was widely recognized for investigating Trump’s role in the Capitol riot, his latest move indicates a continued effort to challenge its legacy and dismantle actions taken by the Biden administration in relation to the committee’s work.

Biden Aide Allegedly Made Unilateral Decisions on Pardons

A report from the New York Post on Friday suggested that an aide in Biden’s administration “may have made unilateral determinations” regarding which documents were signed using the autopen. If true, this revelation could lend credibility to Trump’s claims that Biden had little to no direct involvement in the pardons he issued.

Political and Legal Implications

Trump’s decision to revoke the January 6 Committee pardons raises serious legal and political questions. While the U.S. Constitution grants the president broad powers to issue pardons, the ability of a sitting president to nullify the pardons of a former president remains legally untested.

Critics argue that Trump’s move is more of a symbolic gesture than a legally enforceable action. However, his insistence on reviewing the legitimacy of the pardons could spark further legal battles, potentially setting a precedent for future administrations.

As the controversy unfolds, legal experts and political analysts will closely monitor whether Trump’s declaration will have any concrete legal impact or if it will primarily serve as a political statement to rally his base against Biden and the former January 6 Committee members.