Photos of Former Presidents Displayed in the West Wing of the White House
New Plaques Installed with Direct Evaluations Written by Trump
"Fraudulent Election by Biden", "Obama Caused Division"
Donald Trump, President of the United States, sparked controversy by adding mocking or disparaging remarks about some of his predecessors under their photos displayed in the White House. According to Yonhap News on December 17 (local time), citing ABC News and other sources, new plaques introducing character evaluations and achievements have been installed under the photos of past presidents displayed on the "Presidential Walk of Honor" at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House.
Donald Trump, President of the United States, sparked controversy by attaching mocking or disparaging remarks about some of his predecessors under the photos of past presidents hanging in the White House. Photo by AP Yonhap News
It has been reported that a significant portion of the text on these plaques was written directly by President Trump himself. Among them, there are numerous overtly critical comments not only about his Democratic predecessors but also about former Republican presidents with whom he has had a strained relationship.
In particular, regarding former President Joe Biden, whose photo of an "Autopen" (automatic signature machine) is displayed instead of a portrait, Trump wrote, "'Sleepy Joe' is the worst president in American history," and claimed, "He is the result of the most fraudulent election in America." He further criticized, "(Former President Biden) suffered from severe mental decline and used the Autopen more than anyone ever has."
A new plaque introducing the character evaluations and achievements has been installed under the photos of past presidents displayed on the "Presidential Walk of Honor" at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House. Instead of a portrait, former President Joe Biden's photo of an "Autopen" is displayed. Photo by AP Yonhap News
President Trump has long claimed that, during the Biden administration, White House staff used the Autopen without presidential approval. While other presidents have occasionally used the Autopen as well, Trump has promoted a conspiracy theory that, due to Biden's advanced age of 83 and cognitive decline during his presidency, his aides used the Autopen to control policy decisions.
Previously, on December 3, President Trump stated on social media that all official documents approved by former President Biden using the Autopen are invalid, including presidential pardons. He asserted, "Every document, proclamation, executive order, memorandum, or contract from (Biden's presidency) is now null and void and has no effect," and added, "Anyone who received a pardon, commutation, or any other legal document signed in this way (with the Autopen) should be informed that the document is completely and entirely revoked and has no legal effect."
Meanwhile, the plaque under the photo of former President Barack Obama, a Democrat, reads, "Barack Hussein Obama was the first Black president and the most divisive political figure in American history." Regarding former President Bill Clinton, it states, "His wife Hillary lost the presidential election to President Trump (me)." For former President George W. Bush, a Republican who did not support Trump, the plaque points out, "He started two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but neither should have happened."
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