Trump gestured toward a gap in the Presidential Walk of Fame on Thursday, pointing to an autopen machine installed in place of Joe Biden's portrait. He told Xi, "And, this is the autopen," tapping the Chinese leader on the arm as they walked the colonnade. The moment was captured on video and instantly amplified by the White House's social media team, which posted the clip with a laughing emoji.
The autopen is a mechanical device used to sign documents. Trump has spent years attacking Biden for relying on it, a claim Biden has consistently rejected. By highlighting the machine to Xi, Trump turned a standard diplomatic tour into a personal jab at his predecessor, effectively performing a political takedown in the middle of a state visit.
The reaction was swift and harsh. Former Representative John Delaney called it "the most un-American thing an American president has ever done." Sarah Matthews, a former White House aide, argued that mocking a former president to a "communist dictator" humiliates the United States itself. Even Gerard Butler, a Wall Street Journal editor, dismissed the stunt as "utterly disgusting."
Supporters, however, saw a win. The New York Post's Miranda Devine responded to the White House post with a laughing emoji, while commentator Nick Sortor called the exchange the "highlight of the day." The divide underscores how Trump frames diplomatic visits as opportunities for domestic political theater.
Xi's visit concluded Friday morning with tea at the White House and a trip to the National Archives. Trump had personally welcomed the Chinese leader at Joint Base Andrews, a rare honor for a secular foreign head of state not extended since 1962. The diplomatic protocol, however, was overshadowed by the autopen joke that dominated the headlines.