New information plaques have appeared under the portraits of former U.S. presidents on the walls of the White House. These plaques present the activities of the presidents in a sharp, politically charged, and controversial manner. This initiative was introduced by current President Donald Trump and has sparked significant debates both within U.S. society and on the international stage.
The exhibit, called the “Presidents’ Hall of Honor,” is installed along the wall linking the West Wing of the White House to the main residence. Previously, this area displayed presidential portraits in a traditional manner, accompanied by relatively neutral historical information. However, some plaques about certain leaders have now been supplemented with new, contentious descriptions.
According to Reuters, much of the information presented on the plaques is based on subjective evaluations. Some criticisms are not fully backed by historical sources or independent research. This has raised serious questions among historians and political analysts.
The most significant changes were observed in sections devoted to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The plaque dedicated to Joe Biden describes him as “the worst president in American history” and accuses him of corruption and “cognitive decline.” Notably, Biden’s official portrait is absent from the hall; instead, a blurred image of his signature is displayed. This is widely interpreted as symbolic criticism of his manner of signing executive orders during his presidency.
Barack Obama, meanwhile, is described as “one of the most controversial political figures.” The plaque criticizes several of his domestic and foreign policy decisions. Additionally, the exhibit highlights Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential election defeat and sheds light on previous presidents’ controversial decisions related to wars and economic strategies, reflecting the perspective of the Trump administration.
Many historians and members of the media have expressed concern over this approach. They emphasize that the White House has traditionally been regarded as a symbol of national unity, where presidents are presented in a spirit of respect for the institution of the state, regardless of political differences.
White House officials have defended the new plaques, stating that they “accurately reflect the activities of presidential administrations.” However, as Reuters notes, some declarations in the exhibit are not fully supported by documentary evidence. Consequently, the exhibition has ignited new debates in the U.S. over how history and politics are interpreted.
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