White House unveils Presidential Walk of Fame with Biden portrait replaced by autopen image

The White House unveiled a Presidential Walk of Fame outside the West Wing on Wednesday, featuring a portrait of President Joe Biden replaced with an image of an autopen, the device historically used to sign documents, including pardons.

A White House video posted to X shows portraits of former presidents along the walk; when the camera moves to Biden’s space, the Biden portrait is replaced by an autopen image. The clip was released as part of the White House’s broader messaging about presidential powers and the use of signing tools.

An autopen is a machine that physically holds a pen and follows programming to imitate a person’s signature. It can hold various types of pens, from ballpoint to permanent marker, according to descriptions of autopen machines for sale online. The device has long been used to fulfill routine, high-volume signing tasks, including pardons, executive orders, and ceremonial actions, while drawing attention to questions about the speed and scope of presidential action.

Trump has attacked Biden's autopen, saying the former president did not know what documents he was signing and that thousands of pardons were void. He told reporters earlier this month during a trip to the United Kingdom, "It was illegally used. He never gave the orders." "He never told them what to do. And I guess the only one he signed, or one of the few he signed, was the pardon for his son." The remarks illustrate a continued effort by Trump and some Republican allies to frame Biden’s use of signing tools as improper or ill-considered.

Biden and Democrats have pushed back on criticisms of the autopen and on questions about the president’s cognitive abilities. They emphasize that signing practices follow established procedures and that disputes about mental acuity should be settled by policy outcomes and verifiable records rather than conjecture.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Biden’s office for additional comment on the display and the broader messaging around presidential powers. The White House has not released further details beyond the video accompanying the installation, and spokespeople have not offered additional remarks to date.

As the administration continues to frame presidential signing power within established procedures, the Walk of Fame serves as a symbolic representation of ongoing debates about executive action, accountability, and the optics of leadership in a polarized political environment. Observers note that the display arrives at a time when pardons and other signature actions are routinely scrutinized in public discourse and political campaigning, with lawmakers and commentators weighing precedent, policy, and the practical implications of rapid signings.