President Donald Trump is turning the Rose Garden into a cheeky jab at his predecessor with a new "Presidential Wall of Fame."
In an exclusive hour-long interview with the Daily Caller, Trump revealed plans to install portraits of all U.S. presidents in the Rose Garden, including a provocative placeholder for Joe Biden, namely, a portrait involving an autopen. This move, dripping with Trump’s signature bravado, mocks Biden’s alleged reliance on the device for during his presidency, a practice now under scrutiny by House Republicans and the Trump administration. It’s a bold statement, signaling Trump’s intent to rewrite the narrative of Biden’s tenure.
The interview, conducted on Friday in the Oval Office, saw Trump guide Daily Caller correspondent Reagan Reese to the Rose Garden to showcase ongoing renovations. “We’re doing what’s called the Presidential Wall of Fame,” Trump declared, pointing to the high-end frames for the portraits. The setup, complete with black-and-white images, nods to historical presidents like George Washington, who “didn’t have colored photos,” as Trump quipped.
Trump’s vision includes portraits for every president, with a twist: he and Grover Cleveland get two each, reflecting their non-consecutive terms. The Biden autopen portrait, set to be unveiled in two weeks, is already stirring controversy. It’s a calculated dig, highlighting claims that Biden leaned heavily on the autopen, a device Trump himself admitted to using for pardons during his first term.
House Republicans are probing Biden’s autopen use, alleging it was a workaround to skirt direct involvement in document signings. The New York Times reported Biden gave verbal permission to aides, who relayed instructions through a chain of command to an assistant operating the autopen. This “long game of telephone,” as Reese called it, raises questions about accountability in Biden’s White House.
Trump, never one to shy from controversy, showed Reese the autopen portrait, chuckling, “This is going to be very controversial.” He’s right -- replacing Biden’s image with a machine is a stinging rebuke, implying a presidency run on autopilot. The portrait, in stark black and white, fits the aesthetic but screams political theater.
The autopen controversy isn’t new, but Trump’s public jab elevates it. Biden reportedly signed only one pardon by hand— for his son, Hunter Biden—while relying on the autopen for others. Trump, by contrast, told the Daily Caller he personally addressed each “high-profile pardon” with his aides, projecting hands-on leadership.
Reese pressed Trump on the decision, asking, “You’re going to put President Biden up too?” Trump’s response was coy: “We put up a picture of the autopen.” The exchange, laced with humor, underscores Trump’s knack for turning policy critiques into memorable stunts.
As they strolled to the Rose Garden, with “Hotel California” playing over White House speakers, Trump showed off the frames, boasting, “Is that unbelievable?” The gold-accented frames, designed for “very high-end paintings,” signal a grandiose vision. Yet, the autopen portrait steals the show, a calculated middle finger to Biden’s legacy.
Trump’s team is all in on the provocation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested giving Reese the autopen image to publish, while Trump clarified he’s using a serious portrait, not “the one with the smile.” The choice of black-and-white imagery keeps the display historically consistent but doesn’t soften the jab.
The former president didn’t hold back, mocking Biden’s health claims: “He says he has stage nine cancer. I’ve never heard of more than stage four.” Reese and aides, including communications director Steven Cheung, echoed the skepticism, with Cheung noting he’d “never heard of” stage nine.
Trump’s autopen portrait isn’t just a prank -- it’s a political weapon. By highlighting Biden’s alleged detachment, Trump casts himself as the decisive leader who doesn’t need a machine to govern. The contrast is deliberate, feeding into a broader conservative critique of Biden’s presidency as disconnected and ineffective.
The Rose Garden’s transformation into a “Presidential Wall of Fame” is classic Trump: bold, flashy, and unapologetic. The Hilton hotel’s similar display inspired him, though he insists his frames are superior. “They don’t have frames like that,” he told Reese, dismissing other attempts at presidential tributes.
Reese’s enthusiasm for the project was clear, calling the frames “very beautiful” and egging Trump on: “I think you got to.” Her support, though, came with a warning: “People are not gonna be happy that I gave you advice on this.” Trump, undeterred, confirmed the autopen portrait would be up soon, ready to spark debate.
As House Republicans dig deeper into Biden’s autopen use, Trump’s stunt keeps the issue alive. It’s a masterclass in political trolling -- using art to question legitimacy while cementing his own legacy. The Rose Garden, once a symbol of bipartisan decorum, is now Trump’s stage for settling scores.
