White House Surprise: Trump Replaces Biden’s Portrait with… an Autopen on the “Presidential Walk of Fame”
President Donald Trump has unveiled a new “Presidential Walk of Fame” at the White House, sparking controversy after former President Joe Biden’s portrait was replaced with an image of… an autopen.
Trump introduced the “Presidential Walk of Fame” along the prominent Colonnade corridor outside the West Wing.
“The Presidential Walk of Fame has appeared along the West Wing Colonnade,” Trump’s special assistant and communications advisor, Margo Martin, wrote on X on September 24, attaching a video showing a series of black-and-white portraits of former presidents framed in gold along the hallway.
One particular image drew significant attention: Joe Biden did not have a portrait. Instead, his spot featured a photograph of an autopen.
CNN previously reported that Trump was obsessed with Biden’s use of an autopen. In June, Trump signed a memorandum ordering an investigation into Biden’s reliance on the device, citing concerns about Biden’s “cognitive decline.”
At the time, Biden dismissed the allegations, declaring: “Let me be clear: I am the one who made the decisions during my presidency. I signed pardons, executive orders, laws, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I did not do so is absurd and false.” Biden’s spokesperson has declined to comment on the latest portrait replacement.
Earlier, Trump had hinted that Biden’s portrait would be replaced by an autopen. In an interview with The Daily Caller, when asked about Biden’s portrait, Trump bluntly replied: “We will hang a picture of the autopen.”
This week, White House reporters noticed a gold banner reading “Presidential Walk of Fame” hanging above brown paper coverings taped to the walls, in preparation for the display.
Chris Meagher, former deputy press secretary for Biden, mocked the move on X: “Still impressed by how Trump’s White House remains focused on its day-one promises to lower costs and ease burdens on families — because hallway decorations really solve that.”
In his June memorandum, Trump instructed White House advisors to work with Attorney General Pam Bondi and other agencies to investigate whether “individuals colluded to mislead the public about Biden’s mental state and unconstitutionally exercised presidential authority.” The document also demanded clarification of “any efforts to publicly conceal Biden’s physical and mental health” and “any arrangements among Biden’s aides to fabricate or deny videos showing signs of cognitive decline.”
Trump further called for a review of all policy documents Biden had signed using the autopen, including pardons, executive orders, presidential memoranda, and other decisions. Biden’s advisors have completely denied concealing the president’s health during his final years in office.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One in March, Trump emphasized: “I never used an autopen. Maybe we used it to sign something symbolic, like a letter to a child. But to sign pardons and everything else? That’s truly disgraceful.”This is not the first time Trump has altered portrait displays inside the White House. He previously relocated portraits of Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and replaced a portrait of former First Lady Hillary Clinton with one of himself.
Earlier this summer, Trump also began “renovating” the Rose Garden by installing marble and brick flooring, lights, and a sound system for events. The revamped space, named the “Rose Garden Club,” was inspired by his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he often dines outdoors on weekends.
According to a White House official, Trump plans to host a Rose Garden Club dinner on Wednesday evening with Cabinet members and senior advisors. The event will also give guests the chance to see the latest addition to the West Wing hallway firsthand.
