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White House Reveals New ‘Presidential Walk Of Fame’ But Biden’s Portrait Is An Image Of An Autopen
Former President Trump wearing a blue suit and red striped tie at an event with colorful lighting in the background

White House Reveals New ‘Presidential Walk Of Fame’ But Biden’s Portrait Is An Image Of An Autopen

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The White House has unveiled its new Presidential Walk of Fame in the West Wing, with a dig at former President Joe Biden.

While all other presidents have their official photo framed and hanging on the wall, Biden’s frame has been replaced with a portrait of an autopen machine.

An autopen is a device that replicates a person’s signature, and it has been used by past presidents such as Barack Obama.

Highlights
  • The White House replaced Joe Biden’s official portrait with an autopen machine on the Presidential Walk of Fame wall.
  • Donald Trump alleges Biden used an autopen to hide his cognitive decline, questioning the legality of some executive actions.
  • Biden granted more acts of clemency in one term than any other president, including preemptive pardons to political figures.
  • Biden denies Trump’s claims, stating he made all presidential decisions.
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    The White House has replaced Joe Biden’s portrait with an image of an autopen

    Former president examining framed portraits in the White House Presidential Walk of Fame hallway.

    Image credits: The White House

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    Donald Trump has made several claims over Biden’s alleged use of the autopen, including that presidential aides were using it to hide his “cognitive decline.”

    The president was photographed staring at the new display, appearing to focus on Biden’s autopen picture, on Wednesday.

    The images were shared on the official White House X account, while Margo Martin, Trump’s special assistant, shared a video of the display.

    “The Presidential Walk of Fame has arrived on the West Wing Colonnade. Wait for it…” Martin wrote, alongside a pen and eye emoji.

    Three ornate framed portraits with a signed document, highlighting the White House presidential walk of fame display.

    Image credits: The White House

    It comes as Trump is trying to argue that some of Biden’s executive orders, including pardons, could be legally invalid due to the use of an autopen.

    In June, Trump ordered an investigation into certain presidential actions carried out by Biden.

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    In a White House memo, he claimed that Biden’s aides had abused the power of presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to “conceal Biden’s cognitive decline.”

    He described it as a “conspiracy” and made several claims, without evidence, that Biden was not in control of his actions as president.

    Biden granted more total acts of clemency—pardons and commutations combined—during his single term than any other U.S. president.

    That included issuing pardons for several of his relatives, but also preemptive pardons for members of the House January 6 committee who investigated the Capitol riot.

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S.’s former chief medical advisor who was a lead member of the White House COVID-19 response team, also received a preemptive pardon.

    The preemptive pardons came after Trump made several comments about jailing or investigating his perceived political enemies.

    “Although the authority to take these executive actions, along with many others, is constitutionally committed to the President, there are serious doubts as to the decision making process and even the degree of Biden’s awareness of these actions being taken in his name,” Trump wrote in the June memo.

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    Biden has denied claims made by Trump about his autopen use

    Former President Donald Trump in a blue suit and red striped tie at an event related to the presidential walk of fame.

    Image credits: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

    “The vast majority of Biden’s executive actions were signed using a mechanical signature pen, often called an autopen, as opposed to Biden’s own hand.

    “This was especially true of actions taken during the second half of his Presidency, when his cognitive decline had apparently become even more clear to those working most closely with him.”

    In response to the memo, Biden slammed Trump’s claims as ridiculous and false.

    “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,” he said in a statement.

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    Nothing in U.S. law prevents a president from using an autopen to sign documents, including legislation and pardons.

    President Biden speaking at a podium during NAACP National Convention with White House Presidential Walk Of Fame context.

    Image credits: Mario Tama/Getty Images

    A 2005 opinion from the Justice Department says that a president may use an autopen to sign bills into law.

    It notes that the president’s authorization, rather than their personal physical signature, is sufficient for the act to be legally valid.

    The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is also investigating Biden’s cognitive health and use of autopen. Those investigations have been slammed as politically motivated by Democrats.

    Biden was diagnosed with an advanced form of prostate cancer, which had metastasized to the bone in May of this year.

    Trump, his allies, and family members accused those close to Biden of knowing and concealing his diagnosis before it was made public.

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    Two politicians onstage at CNN presidential debate with blue and red backdrop and podiums under bright studio lights

    Image credits: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    Biden was forced to pull out of the 2024 presidential election after a disastrous debate performance against Trump sparked fears for his mental state.

    At several times, he struggled to keep up with Trump and respond to his points, often appearing confused.

    He was replaced on the ticket by former Vice President Kamala Harris, but critics placed some of the blame for the Democrats losing on Biden’s decision to run in 2024.

    Biden’s son, Hunter, earlier this year claimed that his father’s “deer in the headlights” performance against Trump was the result of Ambien.

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    Kaitlin Easton

    Kaitlin Easton

    Author, News Reporter

    Read more »

    Kaitlin is a Current Affairs Journalist at Bored Panda. She is based in Scotland and has previously worked for ABC News Australia, the Daily Record and the Press and Journal. In her spare time you can find her enjoying a good book and keeping active.

    Read less »
    Kaitlin Easton

    Kaitlin Easton

    Author, News Reporter

    Kaitlin is a Current Affairs Journalist at Bored Panda. She is based in Scotland and has previously worked for ABC News Australia, the Daily Record and the Press and Journal. In her spare time you can find her enjoying a good book and keeping active.

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