Washington, December 18:
President Donald J. Trump has introduced highly controversial partisan plaques on the White House’s newly refashioned “Presidential Walk of Fame,” placing them under portraits of past U.S. presidents in the West Wing Colonnade. The plaques, which many describe as political in tone, include scathing commentary on figures such as Joe Biden and Barack Obama — with Biden labelled “Sleepy Joe” and criticised as “by far, the worst President in American history,” while Obama’s plaque calls him “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.” The plaques use language and stylistic flourishes reminiscent of Trump’s social media rhetoric.
The displays mark an unprecedented break from tradition, where honours for past presidents are typically non-political and respectful. Current and former officials, including some Republicans, have criticised the move as inappropriate and divisive. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the plaques, saying they offer “eloquently written descriptions” and reflect Trump’s historical perspective, with many texts authored by the president himself. The exhibit, part of broader renovations to the White House aesthetic under Trump’s administration, has sparked national debate over presidential legacy and the role of political messaging in official spaces.
