President Donald Trump has never been known for subtlety, and the latest changes inside the White House prove he has no intention of starting now.
Visitors walking through the “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a gallery showcasing portraits of former U.S. presidents, are now greeted with newly installed plaques that leave little doubt about how Trump views his Democratic predecessors. The updated displays deliver sharp, unapologetic assessments of former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama—language that mirrors Trump’s long-standing public criticisms and is already igniting fierce reactions across Washington.
According to multiple reports, the Trump White House approved new descriptions beneath the portraits that go well beyond traditional historical summaries. One plaque brands Joe Biden as the “worst president in American history,” while another labels Barack Obama “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.”
For Trump supporters, the move is classic Trump: blunt, provocative, and unapologetic. For critics, it’s another example of what they call norm-breaking behavior. Either way, the message is unmistakable.
Biden Portrait Replaced With Autopen Image
Perhaps the most striking change involves Joe Biden’s portrait itself. Rather than displaying the former president’s likeness, Trump ordered it replaced with an image of an autopen—the mechanical device used to replicate signatures.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Biden’s reliance on the autopen, arguing that it symbolizes a presidency run by unelected staffers rather than the president himself. While autopens have been used by multiple administrations for decades, Trump has claimed Biden’s use crossed a line, alleging that key documents were signed without Biden’s full awareness or consent.
The plaque beneath the image refers to Biden as “Sleepy Joe Biden” and describes his presidency as a period marked by economic mismanagement, runaway inflation, border chaos, foreign policy disasters, and diminished American strength abroad.
It also references Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, and the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel—events Trump and his allies frequently cite as evidence of what they describe as weak leadership.
Trump has previously vowed to challenge or repeal executive actions signed using an autopen during the Biden administration, arguing that such actions may lack legal legitimacy if the president was not mentally or physically engaged in the decision-making process.
Obama Labeled ‘Divisive’
Former President Barack Obama did not escape criticism either.
The plaque beneath Obama’s portrait calls him “one of the most divisive political figures in American history,” citing years of political polarization, racial tensions, and what Trump allies describe as the weaponization of federal agencies during and after Obama’s time in office.
Trump has long accused Obama-era officials of laying the groundwork for what he calls the “Russia hoax,” and members of his administration have recently revived those claims amid ongoing investigations and document releases related to intelligence community conduct following the 2016 election.
While Obama remains popular among Democrats and the media, Trump has consistently argued that Obama’s legacy is one of division rather than unity—an assessment now literally etched into the walls of the White House.
Critics Cry ‘Disrespect,’ Supporters Applaud Transparency
Unsurprisingly, Democrats and legacy media outlets reacted with outrage, accusing Trump of disrespecting presidential norms and turning a historical exhibit into a political weapon.
Some commentators argued that the plaques undermine the dignity of the presidency and set a dangerous precedent for future administrations. Others accused Trump of rewriting history for partisan gain.
But Trump supporters see it differently.
To them, the plaques are not vandalism—they’re accountability. They argue that for decades, presidential legacies have been curated by academics, journalists, and political insiders who sanitize failures and exaggerate achievements. Trump’s blunt language, they say, simply reflects what millions of Americans already believe.
“Why should failed presidents get glowing descriptions just because they held the office?” one senior administration official reportedly said. “History isn’t supposed to be polite. It’s supposed to be honest.”
A Broader Pattern
The new plaques are consistent with Trump’s broader approach to the presidency during his second term: aggressively challenging institutions, narratives, and traditions he believes shield Democrats from scrutiny.
From revisiting immigration policy to reopening investigations into past intelligence operations, Trump has shown little interest in restoring the norms that defined Washington before him. Instead, he has doubled down on confronting what he calls the “permanent political class.”
The Presidential Walk of Fame update fits neatly into that strategy—symbolic, highly visible, and guaranteed to spark debate.
Not Going Anywhere
Despite the backlash, there is no indication the White House plans to reverse the changes. In fact, aides suggest Trump views the controversy as proof the plaques are working exactly as intended.
As one administration source put it, “If people are uncomfortable reading it, maybe they should ask why so many Americans agree with it.”
Whether future presidents restore traditional plaques or continue Trump’s blunt approach remains to be seen. For now, the message is clear: under Trump, even the walls of the White House are fair game.
And if Barack Obama and Joe Biden hoped time would soften Trump’s judgment of their presidencies, the plaques suggest otherwise.
History, according to Donald Trump, is still being written—and he’s holding the pen.