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 expression—and demanded its immediate removal.
The portrait hangs in the Capitol’s historic Rotunda alongside those of other former U.S. presidents, but Trump’s fiery reaction has thrust it into the national spotlight.
In his post, Trump didn’t mince words, stating, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.” He accused the artist of deliberately distorting his likeness “to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.”
Comparing it to Barack Obama’s portrait by the same painter, he claimed Obama’s looked “wonderful” while his was “truly the worst,” even suggesting the artist “lost her talent as she got older.”
Trump’s critique didn’t stop at aesthetics, he insisted “numerous Coloradans” were “actually angry” 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 “should be ashamed of himself.”
However, Polis had no role in the portrait’s 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 portrait’s unveiling took place on August 1, 2019, at a public event hosted by Senate Republicans inside the Capitol.
Grantham introduced it, saying, “Whether 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.”
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 Trump’s outburst, stating, “Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.”
The response highlighted the building’s historical significance and welcomed public interest, adding, “We’re always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s rant lit up social media, with some users agreeing, “They did him dirty,” or “That looks nothing like him,” while others saw it as a new twist in the ongoing clash between art, politics, and perception.
