Trump autopen joke at Biden’s expense draws rare laugh from China’s Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping broke into rare laughter as his US counterpart Donald Trump showed him a framed “autopen” displayed in place of the former American leader Joe Biden’s portrait during a White House tour.

The viral moment stood out against the Chinese leader’s otherwise restrained demeanour during his first state visit to the United States in more than a decade.

A video released by the White House on social media showed Trump taking Xi along the White House colonnade on Thursday before stopping at the “Presidential Walk of Fame”, where portraits and plaques honour US presidents.

“This is the autopen ... it’s Biden,” Trump said, pointing to the image. Xi laughed audibly, while several people accompanying the two leaders also appeared to join in.