Trump rejects autopen use while signing executive order directing Pentagon to buy coal power

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, February 11, to support the coal industry. The order directs federal funds to support coal power plants. The directive also instructs the Pentagon to purchase more electricity from coal plants.

While signing the order, Trump said, “We don't use autopens” when approving. The order states that the military “shall seek to procure power from the United States coal generation fleet” through long-term purchase agreements.

He has also said previously that he refuses to use autopens and is canceling executive orders signed by Joe Biden using an autopen.

Trump signs coal order, bans autopen use

During the signing of a coal-focused executive order in the Oval Office, a video spread quickly online showing Trump at his desk preparing to sign the document. As he picked up the pen, he said loudly, “We don't use autopens”, then signed the order by hand. He continued to say, “There's no auto pen,” as the people surrounding him chuckled.

Trump was joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, coal company leaders, and miners wearing hard hats. The White House called the gathering the “Champion of Coal Event.”

The president has repeatedly supported coal production in the country. He described it as a reliable fuel and joked that people in his administration should say “beautiful, clean coal” instead of just the word coal. He said the new action is meant to make the power grid stronger and more stable.

Trump also announced that the Department of Energy will send $175 million to improve six coal plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The order follows an April 2025 executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy,” which expanded coal mining and coal use across the country.

Trump voids autopen-signed Biden documents

Trump, 79, has taken a firm stand against the use of autopens. He has criticized their use under Joe Biden and stated that he does not accept documents signed in that manner.

He previously said that orders signed by autopen during Biden’s term should not stand. In a social media post, he wrote, “Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the Autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect.” Past presidents have used autopens. Trump says that using them under Joe Biden meant the president was not fully in control of the White House.