Trump Mocks Biden During Xi Jinping White House Visit

The exchange occurred Thursday as the two leaders walked through the White House colonnade. Trump identified his own portraits before singling out the space reserved for his predecessor, tapping Xi on the arm to emphasize the jab. Because Biden’s portrait is absent, a machine-signed document currently stands in its place, a target for Trump’s long-standing criticism regarding the former president's administrative methods. The White House amplified the moment on social media, posting a video of the interaction accompanied by a laughing emoji.

Public reaction fractured along partisan lines. Former Representative John Delaney labeled the incident “the most un-American thing an American president has ever done,” while former aide Sarah Matthews argued that the mockery humiliated the United States rather than its intended target. Conversely, supporters such as commentator Nick Sortor praised the exchange as a highlight of the diplomatic visit. Xi’s stay concluded Friday following a tea service and a joint visit to the National Archives, marking the end of a high-profile summit that began with a rare personal greeting from Trump at Joint Base Andrews.