In an unusual White House reveal, former President Donald Trump has announced plans for Joe Biden’s official White House portrait—and it’s already stirring controversy.
The focus? Biden’s autopen, the signature-replicating device currently under investigation for allegedly being overused during his presidency.
On Friday, Trump gave a Daily Caller reporter a sneak peek of the portrait, joking that the autopen would feature prominently.
“We put up a picture of the autopen,” Trump said, suggesting the display would go up within the next two weeks.
Whether the portrait will show Biden alongside the device or just the autopen itself remains unclear.
A “Presidential Wall of Fame” in the Works
Trump showed reporter Reagan Reese various sketches of the portrait that will hang in what he’s calling the “Presidential Wall of Fame,” specifically in the Rose Garden.
“I think the black and white—same picture, but black and white.
Yeah, and I’m not using that one with the smile,” Trump explained.
The former president hinted the portrait choice would spark debate.
“This is going to be very controversial,” he said, referring to the autopen feature.
Reese responded, “It’s going to be funny,” capturing the mixture of humor and scandal surrounding the project.
Trump Revisits Autopen Investigation
Trump also took the opportunity to revisit the ongoing investigation into Biden’s use of the device, which he has repeatedly called “disgraceful.”
He claimed, “It’s true though, now they’re finding the autopen, which should not have been used.”
Earlier in his presidency, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington to probe Biden’s autopen usage.
Congressional Republicans have now launched their own inquiries, examining whether Biden’s aides improperly wielded the device to obscure his cognitive state and control executive power.
Allegations of Overuse and Concealment
In a scathing memorandum, Trump wrote that Biden’s aides allegedly abused presidential authority through autopen usage, “to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority.”
He called it “one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” arguing that the public was kept in the dark while key policy decisions were executed via replicated signatures.
Trump’s directive calls for a forensic review of every document signed during Biden’s term—from pardons and executive orders to judicial appointments—to determine which signatures were authentic and which were autopen-generated.
The Autopen: Routine Tool or Controversial Device?
Though little-known to the public, the autopen has long been a tool for presidents, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and even Trump himself, to handle large volumes of documents.
It replicates signatures with precision, saving time on routine letters or appointments.
Trump has explained, “Autopens to me are used when thousands of letters come in from young people all over the country and you want to get them back.” Critics, however, say Biden’s use went beyond normal practice, especially as his public appearances dwindled and aides heavily curated his schedule.
Limited Public Appearances and Family Influence
Reports suggest that Biden’s aides and family members tightly controlled access, scripted conversations with lawmakers and donors, and minimized press interactions.
Insiders say this raised questions about who was truly making key presidential decisions.
An Oversight Project review reportedly found that nearly every document from Biden’s presidency bore identical autopen signatures, except for the 2024 presidential withdrawal announcement.
Pardons, Commutations, and Controversy
Biden’s use of the autopen extended to roughly 4,000 federal commutations and “preemptive” pardons, including individuals connected to Trump-era investigations.
Biden defended the process in the New York Times, saying he set criteria and standards but delegated the signing due to the volume.
Trump, in contrast, has repeatedly claimed that Biden’s mental decline made him unaware of the decisions being signed and called the autopen “one of the biggest scandals we’ve had in 50 to 100 years.”
He singled out Biden’s hand-signed pardon for his son Hunter as an exceptional case.
Congressional Investigations Intensify
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has pursued parallel inquiries, subpoenaing former Biden aides and even his physician, alleging a coordinated effort to conceal Biden’s cognitive condition.
Republicans argue that if aides—not Biden—made critical decisions, it could challenge the legitimacy of major executive actions, including pardons for family members and associates of the January 6 committee.
A Portrait Wrapped in Political Drama
Whether it’s the autopen’s presence or the broader investigation, Trump’s announcement has reignited scrutiny of Biden’s presidency.
The planned “Presidential Wall of Fame” portrait is poised to be more than just a photo—it’s set to be a symbol of ongoing political contention.
