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Monitor Daily
June 06, 2025
When a presidential pen is more than a pen

Among the many fascinations of President Donald Trump is the “autopen” – a device that can sign a document on the president’s behalf. President Trump himself has acknowledged using one. But he relishes the ceremony around signing executive orders with an actual pen, typically a Sharpie. Now the autopen is back in the news, as President Trump orders an investigation into the legality of orders and pardons signed by President Joe Biden with an autopen. The device has also come to symbolize the profound – and growing – power of the American presidency, as I write in today’s Daily. ˜Editor’s note: We spoke with writer Erika Page about her recent reporting on Nairobi’s “satellite” cities. Listen here to the latest episode of our “Why We Wrote This” podcast.

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