Sassy or childish? Trump replaces Joe Biden’s White House portrait with autopen

Donald Trump is making more decorative changes to The White House, following the extensive, gold-leafed Oval Office transformation that would make Auric Goldfinger blush.

The White House has now unveiled a new "Presidential Walk of Fame" near the Oval Office, along the West Wing Colonnade, featuring framed portraits of past US presidents. 

So far, so normal... Except that President Joe Biden’s portrait is nowhere to be seen. Unless you count its replacement: a picture of an autopen signing his name. 

Donald Trump has long claimed Biden used an autopen, the device used to replicate signatures, to sign important documents, including pardons. Trump has used his unfounded claims – which were rebuked by a statement from Biden, in which he called the accusations “ridiculous and false” - to push the narrative that Biden didn’t have a grasp on what was going on during his presidency. He has also suggested that the pardons Biden signed using the technology should be considered null and void.  

Now, the Trump administration has turned their conspiracy theory into a framed shady dig. 

As smirk-worthy as the sass is, this latest petty attempt by Trump to disparage his predecessor and belittle the legacy of a former president feels particularly childish and lacking the respect the office demands.

Chris Meagher, a former deputy press secretary for Biden, echoed this by commenting on this walkway redecoration: “Continually impressed at how laser-focused the White House continues to be on Trump’s Day One promise to lower prices and all the steps they’re taking to make life easier for families struggling to get by.” 

Everyone online also highlighted the childishness of Trump’s recent move:  

This isn’t the first time Trump has attempted to erase symbols of those he has disagreed with from being featured inside the White House.  

In June, the Trump White House removed a portrait of Hillary Clinton and replaced it with a red, white and blue painting of himself. In August, Trump moved portraits of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush from the entryway of the White House to have a less-prominent position. 

As for the new portrait gallery, it is part of Trump's larger changes to the White House grounds which include paving over the grass with marble and stone tiles, as well as a new patio-style set up where he has hosted dinners at the so-called "Rose Garden Club." 

Construction is also underway for an expansive new ballroom.