In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, President Donald Trump has added partisan plaques to the Presidential Walk of Fame, a White House display he originally created.
The Plaques and Their Content
The new plaques feature exaggerated, partisan language. Biden’s plaque repeats false claims that the 46th president took office “as a result of the most corrupt election ever,” and labels him “by far, the worst president in American history.” The plaque for former President Barack Obama calls him “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.” A plaque beneath George W. Bush’s portrait praises his creation of the Department of Homeland Security but criticizes him for starting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which “should not have happened.” Another plaque references Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump, using bombastic, Trump‑style language.
The President’s Statements
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the texts as “eloquently written descriptions of each president” and added that “many were written directly by the President himself.”
Reactions and Responses
Biden had no comment on his plaque. There were no immediate responses to emails sent to aides for Obama and several other former presidents.
The Physical Display and Its Significance
Trump refashioned the colonnade that runs from the West Wing to the White House residence in September, adding gilded portraits of all former presidents except Biden. Instead of a portrait, Trump chose an autopen for Biden, reflecting his mockery of Biden’s age and assertions that Biden was not up to the job. The display runs on the wall of the colonnade between the White House residence and the president’s usual entrance to the Oval Office, allowing Trump to tour the exhibit with his preferred framing of his predecessors.
The Future of the Walk
An introductory plaque claims the Presidential Walk of Fame was “conceived, built, and dedicated by President Donald J. Trump as a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle.” It also states that the Walk will “long live as a testament and tribute to the Greatness of America,” implying permanence beyond Trump’s tenure.
Key Takeaways
- Trump added partisan plaques that label Biden and other presidents with false or negative claims.
- The plaques were reportedly written by Trump himself and are displayed in a new colonnade that excludes Biden.
- The introduction claims the Walk will remain after Trump leaves, suggesting a lasting legacy.
The addition of these plaques has reignited debate over how history is curated in the White House, with critics arguing that the display now serves more as a political statement than an objective record.
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