About That Trump-Xi Autopen Exchange, and the Comical CNN Failed Take

As I noted in an earlier VIP piece, while Trump was hosting Xi and offering the perfunctory pleasantries, he's also cutting Xi off at the pass and ensuring American interests around the world in multiple different moves from Venezuela to Greenland. Greenland was the latest, with the deal that Trump pulled off not only ensuring our own military interests there, but blocking out China in the process. Plus, it served our vital interests regarding critical minerals in the country, so we would not have to be as reliant on China. If you piece together all the moves, he's greatly built up our interests and our security, particularly in this hemisphere. 

So that brings me to this moment that went viral, with Trump showing Xi the autopen picture that he has there in place of Joe Biden. 

"This is the autopen... it's Biden." 🤣

President Trump shows off the legendary Presidential Walk of Fame to President Xi. pic.twitter.com/qUQEM6XoLj

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026

Now this set some into a tizzy because Trump was mocking Biden to the Communist leader. 

Normally, it's a bad idea and bad form to run down U.S. officials to foreign leaders, so I understand that reaction, although it isn't because they care about the U.S. that they object; it's because they hate Trump. 

But as usual, they are missing the story and the greater point because of that hatred. 

If that principle is about protecting the interests of the U.S., the important thing here is the message it's sending to Xi. 

First, Biden is no longer here. The autopen is gone. Now you have someone you are not going to be able to roll over anymore. And as I noted before, he's not shy about cutting China off to protect our interests. Xi knows that, despite all the conviviality. He knows Trump is a much more significant adversary than Joe Biden or Barack Obama, because he can see what Trump has done. 

Second, Democrats targeted Trump; they wanted to lock him up on multiple felonies, and they wanted to boot him off the ballot. If you think this Trump-Xi exchange is somehow problematic, those were actions that were truly corrosive to our political system. 

Third, Trump is telling Xi something else in a direct and rather blunt way, using this image, about how he responds to people who come after him. I will come back at you if you come at me. And that's an incredibly important message to convey to Xi. You cannot try to make moves against the U.S. and expect that you will not have a response; in fact, I will cut you off before you can even make more of those moves. 

Now I'm not in Trump's head, but I also wonder if he is making a subtle comment on the Biden family's relationship to China as well. 

There were a lot of people flipping out in response to that autopen post by the White House on X. 

But perhaps one of the funniest ones was from CNN's S.E. Cupp for how clueless it was: "Remember when he had a prime time address to tell us China meddled in our elections??"

Remember when he had a prime time address to tell us China meddled in our elections?? https://t.co/htiKAYNgwz

— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) September 26, 2026

Um, yes, I remember. 

Does she remember that CNN refused to run it live, as most media would normally do for a presidential address from the White House? That's how much they wanted to put it down. Once again, can we say bias? First they put the address down; now she wants to paint it as important, as though Trump isn't recognizing the dangers from China. And this is why they have no credibility. 

But that's a perfect example of the point just flying right over their heads. Obviously, Trump recognizes the dangers from China, or he wouldn't have taken the actions he has taken to block China — actions that CNN seems clueless about. They want to ignore all the positive actions that Trump has taken to protect the country because of the Trump hate. 

But there's a very clear message still being delivered to Xi.