Key Takeaways
- The Presidential Walk of Fame, a display of gilded portraits of former presidents, has been refashioned by President Donald Trump to include partisan and subjective plaques.
- The plaques feature bombastic language written in Trumpian style, including false claims and divisive descriptions of Democratic presidents.
- The display is located in the West Wing colonnade, allowing Trump to showcase his version of history to guests, including foreign dignitaries.
- The installation is part of Trump’s effort to shape the White House in his image, which has included adorning the Oval Office and planning a massive ballroom addition.
- The plaques have been met with silence from the subjects, including President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama.
Introduction to the Presidential Walk of Fame
The Presidential Walk of Fame, a display of gilded portraits of former presidents, has been refashioned by President Donald Trump to include partisan and subjective plaques. The display, which runs along the colonnade between the West Wing and the White House residence, features bombastic language written in Trumpian style, including false claims and divisive descriptions of Democratic presidents. The installation is the latest move by Trump to shape the White House in his image, an effort that has spanned from adorning the Oval Office to razing the East Wing in preparation for a massive ballroom addition.
The Plaques: A Reflection of Trump’s Style
The plaques, which were written by Trump himself, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, feature language that is characteristic of Trump’s style. The introductory plaque, for example, tells passersby that the Presidential Walk of Fame was "conceived, built, and dedicated by President Donald J. Trump as a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle." The plaque for President Joe Biden repeats false claims that the 46th president took office "as a result of the most corrupt election ever," and describes him as "by far, the worst president in American history." Another Democrat, Barack Obama, is labeled "one of the most divisive political figures in American history." These descriptions are not only subjective but also divisive, reflecting Trump’s tendency to use language that is often inflammatory and partisan.
A Historical Perspective
The Presidential Walk of Fame is not just a display of portraits, but also a reflection of Trump’s effort to bend the telling of history to his liking. The plaques provide a unique perspective on each president, but one that is often at odds with historical fact. For example, the plaque for former President George W. Bush appears to approve of the Republican’s creation of the Department of Homeland Security, but decries that he "started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which should not have happened." This perspective is not only subjective but also reflects Trump’s own views on foreign policy, which have often been at odds with those of his predecessors. The display also includes a plaque for Ronald Reagan, which paints the Republican icon as a fan of a young Trump, further reflecting Trump’s effort to shape the narrative of his own place in history.
The White House’s Aesthetic
The Presidential Walk of Fame is part of a larger effort by Trump to shape the White House in his image. The display is located in the West Wing colonnade, allowing Trump to showcase his version of history to guests, including foreign dignitaries. The installation is also part of a broader effort to refashion the White House’s aesthetic, which has included adorning the Oval Office with Trump’s own decorations and planning a massive ballroom addition. The East Wing, which is currently being razed, will be replaced by a grand ballroom, further reflecting Trump’s desire to leave his mark on the White House. The Presidential Walk of Fame is just one example of how Trump is using the White House to promote his own brand and shape the narrative of his presidency.
Reactions to the Plaques
The plaques have been met with silence from the subjects, including President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama. Biden had no comment on his plaque, and there were no immediate responses to emails sent to aides for Obama and several other former presidents. The lack of response reflects the divisive nature of the plaques, which are likely to be seen as a reflection of Trump’s own partisan views rather than a genuine attempt to provide a historical perspective on the presidents. The Presidential Walk of Fame is likely to remain a source of controversy, reflecting the deep divisions that have characterized Trump’s presidency.
Conclusion
The Presidential Walk of Fame is a reflection of Trump’s effort to shape the White House in his image and bend the telling of history to his liking. The display, which features partisan and subjective plaques, is a unique example of how Trump is using the White House to promote his own brand and shape the narrative of his presidency. The installation is part of a larger effort to refashion the White House’s aesthetic, which has included adorning the Oval Office and planning a massive ballroom addition. The Presidential Walk of Fame is likely to remain a source of controversy, reflecting the deep divisions that have characterized Trump’s presidency. As the display becomes a permanent fixture in the White House, it will be interesting to see how it is received by future presidents and the public, and whether it will be seen as a genuine attempt to provide a historical perspective on the presidents or a reflection of Trump’s own partisan views.