Both sides, in good faith

The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.

The case for

Trump's invocation of the autopen issue highlights a substantive concern about the legitimacy of Biden's final executive actions, particularly the pardons and commutations. The gesture was presented in a lighthearted manner—Xi's laughter suggests it was received as humour rather than hostility—and presidents routinely use diplomatic moments to communicate their positions and criticisms of predecessors. Fair political commentary on governance practices is appropriate material for such occasions, and using a state visit to emphasise one's policy priorities is a standard part of statecraft.

The case against

Using a state visit with a major foreign power for domestic partisan mockery undermines the dignity and seriousness expected at such occasions and may damage American credibility abroad. The autopen has been used routinely by presidents of both parties for administrative matters, and experts described broader claims about Biden's use as unfounded, suggesting the criticism lacks substantive grounding. Diplomatic visits represent limited opportunities for engagement on matters of mutual interest; prioritising a humorous jab at the previous administration over productive US-China relations—which already yielded only limited concrete outcomes—represents a misallocation of diplomatic focus and effort.