White House Walk of Fame Troll Sparks Backlash as Autopen Image Replaces Biden Portrait

WASHINGTON — The White House released a video on Wednesday highlighting its new Presidential Walk of Fame, a gallery-like display of presidents dating to the nation’s founding. In the clip, the frame set aside for former President Biden shows instead an image of an autopen, a nod to Donald Trump’s longstanding assertion that Biden relied on a signing device rather than a human signature. Biden has dismissed the claim.

Trump teased the autopen gag during an interview with The Daily Caller earlier this month, during which he also mocked Biden’s cancer diagnosis. The online reaction to the White House stunt was swift and pointed, with critics calling it childish, immature, and a distraction from governance. Some posts circulated memes referencing Trump’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein while others argued the moment reduced the presidency to a meme wall.

Reaction on social platforms spread quickly, with commentators arguing the spectacle undermines the gravitas associated with the presidency. Critics described the display as a middle school-level prank rather than a solemn tribute to history, while supporters argued it was a lighthearted engagement with the public.

The episode comes as Trump has repeatedly promoted the notion of the autopen issue, telling The Daily Caller that Biden’s team relied on the signing machine. Biden’s aides have rejected the claim, and Trump has pointed to his own history of having papers signed on his behalf with a signature pen. The controversy highlights the ongoing, sharp partisan battle over presidential decorum and public messaging, especially in a climate that prizes social media engagement.

While the White House has offered limited public comment on the display, the moment has become a touchstone for a broader debate about how the presidency is portrayed in the era of social media and aggressive political theatrics. Analysts say the incident reflects a broader trend in which display and branding can eclipse policy discussions, intensifying the sense that governance has shifted toward spectacle.