A quiet hallway inside the White House has become the center of a new political fight. The Walk of Fame, once bare, was recently lined with black and white portraits of former presidents, a change made earlier this year.
That first update already raised eyebrows when observers noticed Joe Biden’s image was not a traditional portrait. Instead, it showed an autopen signing his name, a reference to Donald Trump’s long standing claim that Biden depended on the device while in office.
The situation escalated when metal plaques were installed beneath each portrait. These plaques were presented as brief summaries of each presidency, but their wording quickly made it clear they went far beyond neutral descriptions.
Rather than sticking to historical facts, the plaques included pointed language aimed at specific former presidents. The sharpest criticism was directed at Barack Obama and Joe Biden, drawing immediate attention.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the additions, saying: “The plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each President and the legacy they left behind.” She also noted that Trump personally authored many of them.
Obama’s plaque portrayed his presidency in harsh terms, calling him deeply divisive and blaming him for economic stagnation. It criticized his health care law and accused him of weakening the country’s global standing.
The plaque further claimed: “Under Obama, the ISIS Caliphate spread across the Middle East, Libya collapsed into chaos, and Russia invaded and took Crimea, in Ukraine.” It also accused him of damaging small businesses and misusing federal agencies.
Biden’s plaque was even more blunt, opening with the nickname “Sleepy Joe Biden” and labeling him the worst president in American history. It questioned the legitimacy of his election and blamed him for inflation and border issues.
It continued: “His Afghanistan Disaster was amongst the most humiliating events in American history.” The plaque tied later international conflicts to what it described as Biden’s weakness in office.
In contrast, other former presidents received flattering descriptions. Ronald Reagan was praised for his communication skills, reelection success, and popularity at the end of his presidency.
Richard Nixon was credited with a major political comeback, while Gerald Ford was commended for pardoning Nixon. These plaques avoided the aggressive tone used elsewhere.
Trump’s own plaque took a very different approach, highlighting his election victory and framing it as a triumph over legal attacks and assassination attempts. It credited him with keeping promises and restoring American strength.
Reaction from the public and political figures was swift. California governor Gavin Newsom publicly dismissed the plaques as a distraction, criticizing Trump for focusing on them instead of economic concerns.
Others, including a retired military general and social media users, described the display as embarrassing and petty. Many said the plaques reflected insecurity rather than respect for presidential history.
