Trump’s ‘wind-up doll’? Japan’s PM faces backlash over White House fawning

The clip, posted on the official White House website, shows Takaichi pointing at the framed picture, then laughing and covering her mouth.

It was filmed on the “Presidential Walk of Fame”, a gallery unveiled by Trump last year in the West Wing where portraits of former US presidents are displayed.

Trump, who claims his predecessor’s staff routinely used the mechanical signing device to execute documents in his name, replaced Biden’s image with a picture of the autopen itself and has argued that anything signed with it should be invalidated.

Takaichi’s embarrassment was compounded further when the White House published additional images of her arriving at an official dinner for senior Japanese and American officials with her fists raised, handbag over one arm, apparently shouting with delight.