The White House has recently adorned a colonnade with a series of plaques that have caused quite a stir. These plaques, as stated by administration officials, offer glowing descriptions of President Donald Trump's time in office while sharply criticizing several former presidents. This new addition, known as the "Presidential Walk of Fame," displays the presidential portraits alongside the plaques.
Critics have pointed out that some of the plaques targeting Democratic predecessors, such as Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, contain language that is misleading or false. For instance, one plaque positioned below a portrait labeled "Autopen," which stands in for Biden's portrait, refers to him as "Sleepy Joe Biden" and goes on to call him "the worst President in American History." The plaque also accuses Biden of "severe mental decline" and labels his family as a criminal enterprise, while alleging that he was controlled by "Radical Left handlers."
When asked about the content of the plaques, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NBC News that Trump himself had a hand in writing much of it. She stated, "The plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each President and the legacy they left behind. As a student of history, many were written directly by the President himself."
The plaque for Biden repeats Trump's ongoing claim that the 2020 election was corrupt and blames him for various issues, including inflation, immigration challenges, and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. It even goes as far as stating that the exit from Afghanistan was "among the most humiliating events in American History" and links global conflicts to what it calls Biden's "devastating weakness."
Another plaque targeting Obama identifies him as "Barack Hussein Obama" and describes him as "one of the most divisive figures in American history." It heavily criticizes his policies, including the Affordable Care Act, which it refers to as the "'Unaffordable' Care Act," and the Iran nuclear deal and Paris climate agreement. The plaque also echoes Trump's claim of the "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax" during Obama's presidency.
In contrast, the plaques detailing Trump's own presidency paint a vastly different picture. One plaque praises his first term for creating "the Greatest Economy in the History of the World," citing tax cuts, deregulation, and foreign policy initiatives. Another highlights his second term, applauding his tariffs, immigration policies, and cultural initiatives, while confidently stating, "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"
The source of funding for these plaques and how they were installed has not been addressed by the White House. The reactions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been mixed. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska expressed her concern, stating, "These are individuals who served and were elected by people around this country. Let's not have President Trump trying to redefine their contributions. That's inappropriate." On the other hand, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of Trump, downplayed the controversy, saying, "There may be some amusement there, but we should stay focused on policy priorities rather than the plaques."
It seems that even in his later years, Trump is still comparing himself to his greatest adversary, Obama. The plaques have certainly caused quite a stir and have sparked debates about the appropriateness of such displays in the White House. Only time will tell if these plaques will remain a permanent fixture or if they will be removed in the future.
