Kathrine Frich
The White House has long served as a carefully curated symbol of American democracy, shaped by tradition as much as by those who occupy it.
Each president leaves a mark, but unwritten rules have usually governed how far personal taste and political messaging can go.
This week, that boundary appeared to shift again.
A gallery with a message
Journalists visiting the White House discovered new commemorative plaques displayed beneath portraits of former US presidents along an exterior colonnade leading to the Oval Office.
According to AFP, the installation builds on a gallery introduced earlier by President Donald Trump.
That earlier move had already drawn attention, as the portrait of Joe Biden was replaced with an image of an automatic signing device, echoing Trump’s repeated claims that his predecessor was mentally unfit to govern.
The newly added plaques, however, went further.
Targeting predecessors
The plaques beneath the portraits of Barack Obama and Joe Biden contain sharply critical language.
Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States, is described as “one of the most controversial political figures in history.”
He is also referred to as “Barack Hussein Obama,” a formulation frequently used by Donald Trump in the past and widely criticised for fuelling conspiracy theories about Obama’s background.
Joe Biden’s plaque is even more direct. It states: “Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst president in the history of the United States.”
It also repeats the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.
AFP reported that the tone of the plaques contrasts sharply with the highly complimentary biography displayed beneath Trump’s own portrait.
Claims and counterclaims
Trump’s plaque credits him with ending eight conflicts in eight months, a figure described by AFP as fabricated.
It also claims he generated trillions of dollars in investment for the United States, an assertion that cannot be independently verified.
Since returning to office on January 20, Trump has reshaped parts of the White House to reflect his personal style.
Changes include plans for a large ballroom, an increase in gilded decorations and the display of portraits of himself while still in office.
Traditionally, presidents do not display their own portraits in the White House until after they leave power.
Sources: AFP, Agerpres, Digi24.
