President Donald Trump raised doubts about the legitimacy of the pardon former President Joe Biden issued to Dr. Anthony Fauci, suggesting Biden may never have personally signed the document following Fauci’s congressional testimony this week.
When asked by reporters whether the Department of Justice should reopen an autopen investigation related to Fauci’s pardon, Trump focused on what he characterized as a critical legal question about presidential pardons.
“The most powerful thing the president has, they say, is the power of pardon. So, he was pardoned by Biden, and I respect that. I know how powerful it is,” Trump said. However, he added that “the only thing I know that he signed was Hunter Biden’s pardon. He probably didn’t sign this one.”
Trump’s comments came after Fauci appeared before Congress on Wednesday and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 100 times during questioning about his role in America’s COVID-19 response.
Constitutional Questions Emerge
The use of the Fifth Amendment by a pardoned individual has raised constitutional questions. Senator Josh Hawley pointed out during the hearing that Supreme Court precedent dating back to 1896 holds that pardoned individuals cannot claim Fifth Amendment protections for matters covered by their pardon.
“As you very well know, as the Supreme Court has been clear for a century and more, Brown v. Walker, 1896. When he has been pardoned, he may not stand upon his privilege,” Hawley told Fauci during testimony.
Trump argued that whoever operated the autopen on Biden’s behalf would need documented proof and full knowledge of what was being authorized, suggesting that person may not have understood what the pardon covered.
Trump Reflects on COVID Response
When asked whether Fauci should face repercussions, Trump drew on his experience working with the longtime public health official during the pandemic.
“I inherited Fauci. He was here from the 1980s, so I had him for a period of time, and I disagreed with him on a lot. I would have had to close down the whole country if I listened to him,” Trump said.
The president noted that he pursued a federalist approach, allowing governors to make decisions for their states. He criticized Fauci’s shifting guidance on mask-wearing and other policies during the pandemic.
“Fauci wanted to have nobody wearing masks, if you remember, and then everybody had to wear five masks, as many masks as you could get,” Trump said, adding that “many more people died under Biden than died in the Trump administration from COVID.”
Trump defended Operation Warp Speed, the vaccine development program initiated during his previous term, calling it “one of the great success stories anywhere in the world.”
Legal Uncertainties Ahead
The legitimacy of presidential pardons signed via autopen rather than by hand remains a legal gray area that could have significant implications for Fauci’s case. The Senate is expected to vote on contempt charges against Fauci next week, according to reports from the hearing.
Trump’s public questioning of the pardon’s validity adds another layer of uncertainty to Fauci’s legal situation, as the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases faces growing scrutiny over his handling of the pandemic response and related policy decisions.
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/07/30/heres-how-trump-responded-to-faucis-testimony-n4955612
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