WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has installed new plaques at the “Presidential Walk of Fame” located along the West Wing Colonnade of the White House.

The plaques contain direct and politically charged, mocking commentary aimed at recent former US presidents. Reporters spotted the new additions on Wednesday, triggering fresh debate within Washington’s political circles.

One plaque refers to former president Joe Biden as “Sleepy Joe Biden” and labels him “the worst president in American history.” Notably, Biden’s portrait is absent from the walk of fame. Instead, a framed image shows Biden’s signature produced by the presidential autopen.

Former president Barack Obama’s plaque identifies him as “Barack Hussein Obama” and describes him as “one of the most divisive political figures in American history.”

Similarly, the plaque beneath Bill Clinton’s portrait states that “in 2016, President Clinton’s wife, Hillary Clinton, lost the presidency to President Donald J. Trump.”

According to the White House, several of these plaques were written by President Trump himself. These additions are being described as part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the White House in line with his political vision.

The White House formally unveiled the Presidential Walk of Fame outside the Oval Office in September. The display includes portraits of all past US presidents, with the exception of Joe Biden.

President Trump has previously overseen other major changes at the White House, including replacing the grass in the Rose Garden with a stone patio and ordering the construction of a new White House ballroom, a project that required the demolition of much of the East Wing.

Political analysts say the plaques represent an unprecedented move in American history, marking the first time such overtly political and controversial narratives about former presidents have been publicly displayed inside the White House. Strong reactions and further debate are expected in the coming days.

• Bangladeshis urged to resist violence committed by “fringe elements”.
• Mobs vandalise media offices, attack Indian High Commission.
• Violence to continue if justice not ensured, says activist.
  

The body of Osman Hadi, the popular student leader who was assassinated in Dhaka last Friday while launching his campaign for the elections, has reached the Bangladesh’s capital amid ongoing nationwide violent protests.

In a post on X, the interim government said a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Sharif Osman Hadi’s remains landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 5:48pm local time after departing from Singapore, where he was undergoing medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the interim administration urged people to resist violence as soldiers and police fanned out across Dhaka and other cities following protests, sparking fears of more unrest ahead of national elections in which he had been due to run.

The Muslim-majority nation of about 175 million people is due to elect a new parliament in less than two months’ time — a transition many hope will help the country recover from nearly two years of instability and reclaim its position as a South Asian development success story.

Frequent bouts of violent protests and political wrangling among disparate groups including hardliners have, however, punctured the national sense of euphoria that arose after student-led protests ousted powerful leader and longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

It has also exposed the limitations of the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, analysts said, raising questions over his grip on governance in the world’s second-largest apparel producer after China.

Hasina’s party, the Awami League, which has been barred from the February 12 vote, has threatened unrest that some fear could derail the election itself.

Newspaper, Indian mission targeted

Youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka last Friday while launching his campaign for the elections. He was a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution, and participated in the protests that overthrew Hasina.

Hadi, an outspoken critic of India as well, was initially treated at a local hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced medical care, where he died after six days on life support.

In Dhaka, videos circulating on social media showed mobs vandalising the offices of the country’s largest daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, as well as the Daily Star, on Thursday night.

The fire service said the blaze at the Daily Star was under control. Troops were deployed to the scene, and firefighters rescued journalists trapped inside the building.

Violence was also reported in a number of cities across Bangladesh, including the port city of Chittagong, where protesters attacked the Indian Assistant High Commission.

The unrest follows fresh anti-India protests this week, with ties between the neighbours deteriorating since Hasina fled to Delhi. On Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, chanting anti-India slogans and demanding Hasina’s return.

Although calm had returned to much of the country on Friday morning, protesters carrying national flags and placards continued demonstrating at Shahbagh in central Dhaka, chanting slogans and vowing not to return until justice was served.

Government blames ‘fringe elements’

The interim government urged the people of Bangladesh to resist all forms of mob violence, it said were committed by a “few fringe elements”.

“This is a critical moment in our nation’s history when we are making a historic democratic transition,” it said in a statement. “We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace.”

The government told journalists at the Daily Star, Prothom Alo and New Age following the attacks on their offices that, “attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice”.

It also condemned the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh district, who was beaten and set on fire over allegations of blasphemy in an unrelated incident, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Independent rights group Ain O Salish Kendra said in a statement that coordinated attacks on media outlets, cultural institutions and historical sites indicated the dangerous spread of extremist and violent thought in Bangladesh.

“This series of violence may remain a permanent crisis for the country’s human rights situation, democratic space and future generations,” if justice is not ensured and institutions protected, it said.

A business jet crash in North Carolina killed all seven people aboard Thursday, including a retired race car driver and his family, authorities and Nascar race officials said.

“There was a total of seven on board, all killed,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell told AFP.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the plane had just taken off when it turned back to land before crashing.

The jet left from Statesville airport, north of the city of Charlotte.

Among those killed was retired NASCAR racing driver Greg Biffle, Nascar confirmed.

“The Nascar family is devastated at the loss of Greg Biffle, who was one of our 75 greatest drivers and became known for his relentless post-career humanitarian work. We extend our deepest condolences,” the race company said on X.

Among the fatalities were Biffle’s wife, Cristina Grossu Biffle, and their two children, according to Republican lawmaker Richard Hudson, a family friend who represents North Carolina in Congress.

“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them. They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others,” Hudson posted on social media.

Weather may have played a role in the crash, according to local media, which reported adverse conditions at the time including drizzle and a low cloud ceiling.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was launching a team to investigate the crash of the Cessna Citation C550.

“The team expects to arrive on scene tonight,” the agency said in a statement.