The White House has recently installed a series of plaques on its exterior that openly criticize former Presidents, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama, while promoting disinformation regarding their administrations. These plaques have been strategically placed below presidential portraits on the newly established Presidential Walk of Fame in the White House colonnade, drawing significant attention and controversy.
Among the most contentious plaques is one positioned beneath the portrait of the “Autopen," which is a stand-in for President Joe Biden's official image. This plaque derogatorily refers to Biden as “Sleepy Joe Biden” and claims he is “the worst President in American History.” It includes a series of disparaging remarks about Biden, alleging his “severe mental decline” and referring to his administration as the “Biden Crime Family.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated to NBC News that many of the texts for the plaques were penned by Trump himself. “The plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each President and the legacy they left behind," she said, emphasizing Trump's role as a history student. The Biden plaque also suggests he assumed office as a result of “the most corrupt Election ever seen” in the United States, alluding to the highly contested 2020 presidential election.
The plaque accuses Biden of leading the nation through a series of “unprecedented disasters” that have placed the country on the “brink of destruction.” It highlights the inflation that emerged during his presidency and derogatorily labels the Inflation Reduction Act as the “Green New Scam.” The text also criticizes Biden's immigration policies and recalls the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, dubbing it the “Afghanistan Disaster.”
Furthermore, it claims that Biden’s perceived weakness led to international crises, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the October 7th attack by Hamas on Israel. The plaque even references Biden's performance in the upcoming 2024 presidential debate, predicting that he will have to withdraw from his re-election campaign after suffering a humiliating defeat to Trump.
Another controversial plaque targets former President Barack Obama, using his full name, “Barack Hussein Obama,” a term often utilized derisively in right-wing discourse. This plaque describes Obama as “one of the most divisive figures in American history” and critiques his policies, including Obamacare, which it mockingly labels the “Unaffordable Care Act.” It also points to what the Trump administration characterizes as failures during Obama's tenure, such as a stagnant economy and the Iran Nuclear Deal.
In a continuation of the theme, the plaque perpetuates Trump's conspiracy theory regarding alleged surveillance of his 2016 campaign, describing it as part of the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” deemed the worst political scandal in American history.
While the plaques have sparked debate, reactions among Republican lawmakers have been mixed. Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her discomfort, stating, "These are individuals who served who were elected by people around this country... Let’s not have President Trump trying to redefine their contributions.”
Conversely, Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump supporter, downplayed the significance of the plaques, suggesting they were not a pressing concern and instead shifted focus to the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. He emphasized the importance of addressing voters' needs rather than dwelling on the plaques.
The plaques detailing Trump's own presidency paint his leadership in a highly favorable light. The first plaque highlights his first term achievements, claiming he signed the “Largest Tax Cuts in History,” revitalized the economy, and terminated significant international agreements such as the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Accords. It also boasts about his role in the historic Abraham Accords and the destruction of the ISIS Caliphate.
Furthermore, the second plaque highlights Trump's second term achievements, including his hardline immigration policies and initiatives to remove Critical Race Theory from schools. It also mentions the construction of the Golden Dome missile defense shield and the establishment of the newly named Gulf of America.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the installation of these plaques serves as a reminder of the ongoing division in American politics and the contentious legacy of the Trump presidency.