On March 24, 2025, President Donald Trump set off a wave of controversy by publicly condemning his official portrait displayed in the Colorado State Capitol.
Taking to Truth Social, he posted a photo of the artwork, showing him in a dark suit, red tie, and white shirt with a stern expressionโand demanded its immediate removal.
The portrait hangs in the Capitolโs historic Rotunda alongside those of other former U.S. presidents, but Trumpโs fiery reaction has thrust it into the national spotlight.
In his post, Trump didnโt mince words, stating, โNobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.โ He accused the artist of deliberately distorting his likeness โto a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.โ
Comparing it to Barack Obamaโs portrait by the same painter, he claimed Obamaโs looked โwonderfulโ while his was โtruly the worst,โ even suggesting the artist โlost her talent as she got older.โ
Trumpโs critique didnโt stop at aesthetics, he insisted โnumerous Coloradansโ were โactually angryโ about the image, though no widespread public outcry has emerged.
Trump pointed the finger at Colorado Governor Jared Polis, wrongly claiming the Democrat commissioned and funded the piece. He urged Polis to take it down, declaring the governor โshould be ashamed of himself.โ
However, Polis had no role in the portraitโs creation. Instead, Colorado Republicans, led by then-Senate President Kevin J. Grantham, spearheaded the effort, raising $10,884 through a 2018 GoFundMe campaign that exceeded its $10,000 goal to commission artist Sarah A. Boardman, known for painting Obama and other presidents.
The portraitโs unveiling took place on August 1, 2019, at a public event hosted by Senate Republicans inside the Capitol.
Grantham introduced it, saying, โWhether this portrait brings a smile or scowl to your face, remember you have the right to do so because this is the United States of America.โ
Since then, it has joined portraits of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Obama in the Rotunda of the Capitol, a 1901 architectural gem built with Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble, celebrated for its tradition of honoring leaders.
A spokesperson for Governor Polis addressed Trumpโs outburst, stating, โGov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.โ
The response highlighted the buildingโs historical significance and welcomed public interest, adding, โWeโre always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.โ
Meanwhile, Trumpโs rant lit up social media, with some users agreeing, โThey did him dirty,โ or โThat looks nothing like him,โ while others saw it as a new twist in the ongoing clash between art, politics, and perception.