Trump Presidency
Suprising Presidential Conduct: Trump Chuckles Showing Xi Jinping Biden Autopen Display
Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing continue to manage major disagreements over trade, technology, Taiwan and other geopolitical issues but Trump focuses on a walk of shame mocking a Former President.
Donald Trump used a White House tour with Chinese President Xi Jinping to highlight an autopen mocking former President Joe Biden, turning an otherwise significant diplomatic visit into another public moment of political confrontation.
During Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington on September 24, Trump pointed out an image depicting an autopen in place of a conventional presidential portrait for Biden at the White House’s “Presidential Walk of Fame.”
Trump has repeatedly used Joe Biden’s reported use of an autopen as a political attack, questioning decisions and actions taken during Biden’s presidency. The latest episode placed that domestic political message directly in front of China’s leader during a high-profile state visit.
Trump Turns White House Tour Into Political Moment
Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing continue to manage major disagreements over trade, technology, Taiwan and other geopolitical issues.
Instead of keeping the White House tour focused exclusively on the relationship between the two countries, Trump drew Xi’s attention to the Joe Biden display. Reporting from the White House said Xi and members of his delegation laughed as Trump pointed to the autopen image.
The episode quickly spread online after the White House shared footage.
Trump has also installed displays and other changes around the White House during his second term, including his so-called “Presidential Walk of Fame,” where his own presidency appears more than once because of his nonconsecutive election victories.
The presentation has become part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the White House’s appearance and leave a highly visible mark on the institution.
View this post on Instagram
Why the Xi Moment Matters
The optics are significant because Xi is not simply another foreign visitor.
China is one of the United States’ principal strategic competitors, with Washington and Beijing locked in disputes over tariffs, advanced technology, military power and Taiwan. Ahead of Xi’s visit, reports that trade, rare earth minerals and artificial intelligence were among the issues expected to feature prominently in discussions between the two governments.
Against that backdrop, Trump’s decision to showcase a mocking representation of his predecessor creates a striking contrast between domestic political messaging and diplomatic engagement.
Trump’s approach to Biden has remained a recurring feature of his political rhetoric. A report found that Trump had mentioned Biden nearly 900 times in 2026, frequently blaming his predecessor for economic and foreign-policy problems.
Is Mocking a Former President by Trump a New Normal?
The political reaction to the incident has raised a provocative question: is publicly belittling a former president in front of a foreign leader such as China a new low for a sunsetting superpower like the U.S.? On the world stage, Trump has been hitting new lows, which will embarrass America in the times to come.
A Diplomatic Visit With a Political Undercurrent
Xi’s visit itself carries major geopolitical significance. Trump had arranged an unusually prominent welcome for the Chinese leader, including a formal ceremony and military elements at Joint Base Andrews. Reuters previously reported that Trump planned to personally greet Xi at the airport, an unusual protocol choice for a U.S. president.
The contrast between the formal diplomacy surrounding Xi’s visit and Trump’s pointed treatment of Biden illustrates how closely foreign policy and domestic political messaging have become intertwined.
For Trump, the Biden display reinforced a familiar political narrative about his predecessor. For critics, the episode raises questions about presidential decorum and whether partisan disputes should dominate highly sensitive diplomatic encounters.
The broader U.S.-China relationship, meanwhile, remains focused on issues with consequences far beyond the White House walls, from tariffs and technology to rare earth supplies, Taiwan, and artificial intelligence.
