Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Former President Donald Trump has taken aim at many political opponents over the years, but this weekend, he set his sights on an unlikely new foe: a portrait of himself.
In a fiery post on his Truth Social platform Sunday night, Trump condemned the painting hanging in the Colorado state Capitol, calling it “purposefully distorted” and demanding its removal.
“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump wrote. “I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one.”
By Monday, Trump got his wish. The executive committee of the General Assembly’s legislative council issued a bipartisan directive for the portrait to be “immediately” removed from the Capitol.
Portrait Controversy Sparks Partisan Reactions
The directive stated that the painting would be stored “in a secure and appropriate location” until further notice.
A spokesperson for Colorado House Democrats noted that the removal was initiated by Republican lawmakers.
“Republican leadership asked for it to be taken down. The Speaker and Majority Leader are focused on keeping Coloradans safe and reducing costs, not hanging portraits. If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then that’s up to them,” the statement read.
Governor Jared Polis (D) appeared to take Trump’s sudden interest in the artwork with humor.
“Governor Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork,” his spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said in a statement. “We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Artist Responds to Trump’s Criticism
The oil-on-canvas portrait was painted by artist Sarah Boardman, whose website features portraits of several notable figures, including former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
Trump, however, took a swipe at Boardman’s work, writing in his post that Obama’s portrait “looks wonderful” but claiming that Boardman “must have lost her talent as she got older.”
The portrait of Trump was unveiled in 2019, with Boardman calling it an honor to have been commissioned for the work. On her website, she thanked “all the dignitaries, staff, donors and visitors who attended and made this a wonderful event!”
Boardman has not responded to requests for comment.
What’s Next for the Portrait?
With the portrait now removed, its future remains uncertain. Lawmakers did not specify whether it would be replaced with a new portrait or permanently kept in storage.
Trump’s reaction to the painting adds another unexpected chapter to his long history of public feuds—this time, with a brushstroke.
