President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that he “just heard” that all four of former President Joe Biden’s appointments to the Federal Reserve Board were approved by an “autopen,” suggesting they do not have the authority to serve in the role.
President Trump offered no evidence for this claim, piggybacking on his repeated claim that all documents signed by his predecessor using an autopen are invalid.
But he said he thought it was “something we would have to consider.” He also suggested the list of auto-signed appointees could include Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who has faced near-constant criticism from President Trump over his handling of the central bank and U.S. interest rate levels.
President Trump has spent months repeatedly pressuring Powell and the Fed to cut interest rates, and criticizing them when they don’t follow his orders, to no avail. The Fed cut interest rates in September and then again in October. Trump’s comments came on the eve of a meeting of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates for the third time on Wednesday.
President Trump appointed Powell as Federal Reserve Chairman during his first term as president. Biden reappointed Powell in 2021. Powell’s term expires in May.
Three other current members of the Fed’s board of governors (Vice Chairman Philip Jefferson, Governor Michael Barr, and Governor Lisa Cook) were also appointed by Mr. Biden.
AutoPen’s comments were made during a campaign-style speech in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, where President Trump was visiting to talk about the economy and counter Democratic messages about America’s affordability crisis.
“By the way, apparently, I need to confirm this, but from what I’ve just heard, all four Fed committee members may have been signed by Biden…I’m hearing that an autopen may have signed these committees,” President Trump said.
President Trump interjected criticism of Powell into his accusations, derisively calling him “too slow” and claiming: JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon had asked the central bank chief to lower interest rates.
“But I’ve heard that AutoPen may have signed those commissions. If they signed those commissions, I could be wrong, but we’re going to check,” President Trump said.
He then appeared to address members of his administration, asking, “Did you see it? Did you hear it? Who signed it? Did he sign it or did an autopen sign it?”
“So, I don’t know. I think it’s something we have to consider,” Trump said. “They put people there who are not allowed to be there.”
Then Trump said, “Can you confirm that, Scott?” It appears that he is referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“I’ve heard that he probably could have signed all four people with an autopen, but he probably could have signed two of them,” Trump said.
“We will accommodate two people,” he added.
