Full Breakdown
Trump mocks Biden while welcoming China’s Xi Jinping at the White House
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During a Thursday visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, former President Donald Trump displayed a newly installed “Presidential Walk of Fame” on the West Colonnade and pointed to a portrait of Joe Biden, calling it an autopen. The same day Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing only himself and Xi saluting on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, with the first ladies digitally erased.
Background & Context
The “Presidential Walk of Fame” was added in September 2025, a year after Trump’s 2024 election victory. Earlier in August 2025, Trump had claimed a photo sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin showed Putin’s “respect” for the United States. The AI-generated airport image contrasts with footage of the actual arrival, which showed Trump and Xi accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. The altered picture placed Trump’s aide Natalie Harp at the center of the scene.
Official Statements & Responses
- The White House did not respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on the video or the AI-generated image.
Data & Statistics
- Chinese media reported 21 salutes were fired and a B-1 bomber flew over Joint Base Andrews during the ceremony.
- The red-carpet stretch measured roughly 30 meters, and both national anthems were played.
Verbatim Quotes
- “America will never be a communist country.” — Donald Trump
- “When he says he hates communists, he means Americans; he means leftists in America, who he calls communists,” — Baker, New York Times
- “He respects people who snap their fingers, who make decisions, and who are strong,” — Baker, New York Times
- “The conventional wisdom that Trump is, himself, an authoritarian has some basis in truth,” — Aubrey Immelman, associate professor
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The AI-generated image omits Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, whereas video evidence confirms both were present at Andrews.
- Chinese state media claim this was the first presidential welcome at Andrews since 1962, a detail not independently verified by U.S. officials.
Why It Matters
Trump’s public mockery of a former president while greeting a major foreign leader blurs the line between domestic political theater and diplomatic protocol. The episode shows how personal branding and media manipulation—exemplified by the AI-generated picture—can intersect with statecraft, reshaping perceptions of U.S. leadership at home and abroad.