During a White House tour with China’s leader, President Trump pointed to an “autopen” in place of Joe Biden’s portrait—and Xi Jinping laughed as cameras rolled.
Story Highlights
- Trump showed Xi a display that replaced Biden’s portrait with an autopen image.
- Xi and his aides laughed at the remark during the high-profile visit.
- Footage shared by a White House aide sparked swift online backlash.
- Coverage framed the moment as a public insult that broke diplomatic decorum.
What Happened on the White House Colonnade
President Trump led Chinese President Xi Jinping along the White House colonnade, where a display marks recent presidencies. Trump pointed to two portraits of himself, then gestured to an image of an autopen where Joe Biden’s portrait would be. Reports say Trump remarked, “This is the autopen,” and added “It’s Biden,” drawing laughter from Xi and his entourage, according to video shared by a White House aide.
Multiple outlets described the scene as public and on-camera, not a private aside. Write-ups said Xi broke into rare laughter at the quip. Some reports included details like Trump tapping Xi on the arm as they moved along the display. While wording varies slightly across outlets, the core exchange—Trump labeling the autopen as “Biden,” Xi laughing—appears consistent across the available coverage.
Why the Display and Setting Stirred Outrage
The controversy centers on norms. State visits are designed to project unity and respect. Publicly mocking a predecessor in front of a foreign leader breaks from typical presidential decorum, according to diplomatic expectations. Commentators called the act “un-American” and “belittling,” arguing it used the nation’s house to score a partisan point during a sensitive moment. That frame dominated reaction pieces and helped drive the viral backlash online soon after the clip spread.
The display itself added fuel. Instead of Biden’s portrait, the case held an image of an autopen signing his name. The autopen is a mechanical signing device used by many leaders. Trump has long attacked Biden’s use of it. By building the jab into the tour path, critics argue the White House became a stage for a political joke aimed at a domestic rival in front of a geopolitical competitor, raising concerns about how it reflects on American institutions.
Supporters Say It Was a Joke; Critics See a Risk
Pro-Trump voices cast the moment as light humor, not a slight to the nation. They note that the joke targeted Biden’s reliance on an autopen, a running theme in Trump’s rhetoric, and say the laughter showed common ground on an obvious punchline. Supportive pieces described it as a “playful jab” during a tour rather than a serious breach of protocol, even as they acknowledged the high-visibility setting of Xi’s visit and cameras present along the route.
Both takes feed a wider worry many Americans share: leaders seem more focused on viral points than real fixes. People on the right see elites who mock their values while ducking border, cost-of-living, and energy problems. People on the left see elites who shrug at inequality and social strain. A moment built for a laugh fits that pattern. It grabs attention while trust in institutions keeps sliding. That is why a brief remark triggered a larger argument about respect, priorities, and national standing.
Limits of the Record and What to Watch Next
The reporting relies on footage described by outlets rather than an official White House transcript. Some quotes vary in wording, and coverage does not document Xi’s intent behind the laughter. Still, the shared facts are strong enough to stand: Trump pointed to the autopen display as “Biden,” and Xi laughed. Watch for any official release of the full video, statements from the White House, or clarification from the Chinese delegation that could add timing, phrasing, and context to the episode.
Sources:
ndtv.com, scmp.com, themirror.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, huffpost.com, ibtimes.co.uk
