Trump unveils 'Presidential Walk of Fame' on White House Colonnade, with Biden autopen depiction
New display of portraits along the West Wing Colonnade draws mixed reactions as renovations continue at the White House
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump unveiled a new 'Presidential Walk of Fame' along the White House West Wing Colonnade on Wednesday, a corridor of gold-framed portraits depicting the 45 presidents who have led the United States. The lineup runs from George Washington near the residence to a final grouping that includes Trump and an image of an autopen representing Joe Biden, the current president who is depicted as the automated signing device. The display is part of a broader wave of renovations at the Executive Mansion and is intended, officials say, to celebrate the presidency while showcasing a refreshed public-facing space.
Trump, 79, personally inspected the ongoing renovations in a photo posted by the White House on X. A Trump aide wrote on social media, "The Presidential Walk of Fame has arrived on the West Wing Colonnade. Wait for it…" as a video captured the gallery’s gold-framed portraits moving along the wall. The Colonnade links the Rose Garden to the Oval Office and other workspaces, making the passageway a frequent backdrop for presidential photo opportunities. Workers have resurfaced the white wall in preparation for the installation, part of a broader set of improvements that include gilding and adornments in several rooms and spaces.
The arrangement appears to place the oldest presidents closest to the residence and culminates with Trump and the autopen image, a choice that aligns with Trump’s recent criticisms of Biden’s use of the signature device. Autopen signatures carry legal force when properly authorized, and Trump has repeatedly highlighted Biden’s use of autopen as part of his broader critique of the administration’s handling of signatures on legislation and clemency materials. Biden aides and allies have argued that the president maintains overall control of his office and that signing devices are tool rather than substitute for oversight. The White House has not publicly elaborated on the display’s intent beyond noting it as part of the ongoing renovations.
Observers note that the autopen motif has been a recurring theme in Trump’s public messaging about Biden. Internal emails from Biden’s White House obtained in previous disclosures indicated concerns about the signing process for certain actions, including questions about whether all documents were adequately reviewed before mass-clemency actions. Legal scholars say autopen signatures can be binding if the president authorizes their use; critics, however, argue that such moments can blur lines between ceremonial duties and political messaging. The White House has not offered further comment on those specifics in relation to the new display, and a Biden spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The walk’s unveiling has drawn a mixed reception. Supporters applauded Trump for repurposing a historic space to celebrate presidential history, while critics argued that the project, especially the Biden-autopen motif, risks politicizing a ceremonial area that many Americans view as a shared national space rather than a venue for ideological messaging. Pete Souza, a longtime photographer who served as the official White House photographer for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, condemned the design last month when DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro shared an image of the prep work. Souza wrote on Instagram that the current occupant of the Oval Office is "ruining the look of the White House colonnade" and called the redesign, in his words, "appalling" for turning the People’s House into a stage for controversy, even joking that it was becoming the northern Mar-e-Lago.
Beyond the walk, Trump has overseen several other White House changes in recent months. The administration is continuing work on an under-construction ballroom intended to replace portions of the East Wing, part of broader renovations that include gilded accents in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, a patio replacement in the Rose Garden, two large flagpoles added to the North and South Lawns, and a significant overhaul of the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom. The White House has framed these updates as modernization efforts designed to improve functionality while preserving historical significance, though observers say the changes reflect a broader trend of high-visibility, decor-forward upgrades at the residence.
As the exhibit opened, a Biden spokesperson did not immediately offer comment. Trump’s supporters quickly circulated clips and images of the new display, underscoring the political charge surrounding the project. Yet the White House renovation story has not dominated every discussion about the Colonnade. In photos from 2009, for example, a tranquil moment shows President Barack Obama with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, illustrating the Colonnade’s long-standing role as a backdrop for diplomacy and history, even as new updates now frame it in a contemporary political context.
The White House says the walk is part of a broader effort to celebrate the presidency and to refresh a historic space that has long served as a stage for official ceremonies and photo opportunities. Whether the new display will be received as a respectful homage to the office or as a political statement remains a matter of public debate. What is clear is that the Colonnade will continue to be a focal point for visitors and for those watching the presidency unfold in real time, with every new portrait and every new caption potentially shaping how Americans remember these moments in history.
