Recently, new plaques have appeared under portraits of former U.S. presidents at the White House. Unlike Trump’s past criticisms delivered through speeches or social media, these plaques provide a more permanent way to shape public perception. They include claims and criticisms targeting former leaders, particularly Joe Biden and Barack Obama, while also highlighting Trump’s own achievements.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the plaques “are eloquently written descriptions of each president and the legacy they left behind”. News outlets have fact-checked these claims to see how accurate they really are.
Biden Plaque: Election Claims and Migration Numbers
One plaque calls Biden’s 2020 election victory “the most corrupt election ever seen in the U.S.” Fact-checkers found no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Claims about unusual vote surges, machines flipping votes, or dead people voting have all been debunked.
The plaque also claims Biden “let 21 million people from all over the world pour into the U.S.” Official border data shows around 10 million migrant encounters during Biden’s term, mostly at the southwestern border, far below Trump’s cited figures. The number includes both legal and attempted illegal crossings and does not account for undetected entries.
Biden Plaque: Inflation Record
The plaque criticizes Biden for causing “the highest inflation ever recorded.” While inflation rose during Biden’s first two years, peaking at 9.1% in June 2022, it is not the highest in U.S. history. Inflation hit 23.7% in 1920 and was also higher during the 1970s and 1980s.
Trump Plaque: Achievements Under Scrutiny
Trump’s plaque claims he “defeated inflation,” but official data shows inflation remained at 2.7% year-on-year in November 2025. Average grocery prices rose by 1.9% since the November 2024 election.
The plaque also states Trump ended “eight wars in his first eight months.” While he helped broker some peace agreements, other listed conflicts were never actual wars, and some agreements remain fragile. Experts question the accuracy of this claim.
Other Presidential Plaques
Not all plaques target Democrats. Former Republican George W. Bush is criticized for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, while Jimmy Carter receives praise for certain achievements. Neither Biden nor Obama has publicly responded to the new plaques.
