President Donald Trump has added a new set of plaques to his “Presidential Walk of Fame,” a portrait-lined display along the White House West Colonnade. Several of the new inscriptions sharply criticize former Democratic presidents—especially Joe Biden and Barack Obama—while praising select Republican predecessors.
Why it matters
The installation sits on the walkway between the residence and the Oval Office, making it a high-visibility stop for visitors, guests and dignitaries. The White House has described the plaques as brief assessments of past presidents—“good, bad, and somewhere in the middle”—with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying many were written by Trump himself.
What to know
The newly unveiled text includes blunt, partisan characterizations of multiple presidents:
- Joe Biden: Two plaques describe Biden as “by far, the worst President in American history” and allege he took office through “the most corrupt election ever seen in the United States.” The inscriptions blame him for inflation, border security failures, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and escalating conflicts abroad. One plaque repeats Trump’s longstanding nicknames for Biden and ends by predicting Trump would be re-elected “in a Landslide” and “SAVE AMERICA!”
- Barack Obama: The plaques criticize Obama’s domestic and foreign policy record, targeting the Affordable Care Act, the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Climate Accords. They also claim his administration “spied” on Trump’s 2016 campaign and promoted the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” language Trump has repeatedly used to describe investigations related to Russian election interference. The text also references Hillary Clinton as Obama’s successor and notes her loss to Trump.
- George W. Bush: The plaque for Bush is less personal but still pointed, faulting him for launching the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—stating both “should not have happened”—and noting the 2008 financial crisis during his final year in office.
- Ronald Reagan: In contrast, Reagan’s plaque is celebratory, crediting him with winning the Cold War, rebuilding the military and restoring national confidence. It also claims Reagan was “a fan” of Trump, and that Trump admired Reagan in return.
- Jimmy Carter: Carter’s plaque—added after his death in December 2024—highlights economic strain during his presidency, referencing inflation, unemployment and the “misery index,” as well as the Iran hostage crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It ends on a kinder note, saying many believe Carter’s post-presidency humanitarian work was more successful than his time in office.
Trump’s own plaques
The display also features plaques touting Trump’s record. One describes his 2016 win as a political upset, emphasizing his lack of prior political or military experience and his victory over Hillary Clinton in key battleground states. Another credits his first term with tax cuts, deregulation, military expansion, ending NAFTA, defeating ISIS, the Abraham Accords, and Operation Warp Speed during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with withdrawals from the Iran deal and Paris Climate Accords.
A plaque about Trump’s second term asserts he won the 2024 election in a “Historic Victory,” describing it as a return to office after a nonconsecutive gap and declaring the start of a “Golden Age of America.” It lists priorities such as reducing inflation, strengthening border enforcement, attracting investment, imposing new tariffs, pushing for expanded NATO contributions, pursuing a missile defense initiative dubbed the “Golden Dome,” and building a “Trump Presidential Ballroom” at the White House.
What happens next
The updated display is expected to remain in place throughout Trump’s term. What happens to the installation after his presidency remains unclear.
