In a highly anticipated and politically charged move, President Donald Trump has unveiled a new “Presidential Walk of Fame” at the White House, featuring portraits of every past U.S. President—with a deliberate and provocative omission of his immediate predecessor, Joe Biden.
Instead of a traditional portrait of the 46th President, Trump’s installation features a pointed image of an autopen signing Biden’s name. This act is the latest in Trump’s sustained efforts to undermine Biden’s legitimacy and legacy, coming shortly after he mocked the former President during an address at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
The Autopen Controversy
The placement of the autopen image is a direct nod to President Trump’s long-running and unsubstantiated claim that Joe Biden was not fully in control during his presidency. Trump has repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that Biden’s aides used the autopen—a device used to mechanically reproduce a signature—to authorize official decisions and documents he did not personally approve. He has even questioned the legitimacy of pardons signed by the device, despite the autopen’s routine use by many past presidents.
The controversy has recently moved into the legislative arena, with a Republican-led House committee currently probing the Biden administration’s reliance on the autopen for official business.
White House staff showcased the finished walkway on social media Wednesday afternoon. The installation, which lines the Colonnade, is set to be seen by the press later tonight when President Trump hosts a dinner on the newly renovated Rose Garden patio.
Broader White House Renovations
The Walk of Fame is part of several notable physical changes President Trump has instituted since his return to office. Other updates to the Executive Mansion include the addition of gold accents in the Oval Office, the installation of oversized flagpoles on the North and South Lawns, a newly stone-paved Rose Garden, and the ongoing construction of a grand ballroom, all reflecting the current administration’s distinctive style.
Source: CNN
