TRUMP CONDEMNED FOR MOCKING BIDEN IN FRONT OF CHINA’S XI
U.S. President Donald Trump has come under criticism for replacing former President Joe Biden’s portrait with an image of an autopen on the White House’s presidential portrait display — and then drawing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attention to it during his state visit.
Critics accused Trump of disrespecting the office of the presidency by ridiculing a former American president in front of the leader of China.
Former Democratic Congressman John Delaney described the episode as “un-American,” while former Trump White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews also criticised the president for mocking his predecessor before a foreign leader.
The incident happened as Trump gave Xi a tour of the White House and stopped at the Presidential Walk of Fame. Biden is the only former president on the display represented by an autopen rather than a conventional presidential portrait.
Pointing towards the display, Trump told Xi: “This is the autopen… Biden. It’s Biden.”
Xi could then be heard laughing, with others accompanying the two leaders also joining in. The White House later shared video of the exchange on social media.
The unusual display reflects Trump’s longstanding criticism of Biden’s use of an autopen to sign official documents. Biden has rejected Trump’s broader claims surrounding its use.