President Trump demanded the removal of a distorted portrait, claiming it misrepresents his appearance and does not reflect reality.
President Donald Trump has publicly criticized a controversial portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado Capitol, calling it “purposefully distorted” and demanding its removal.
The artwork, created by artist Sarah Boardman, has been hanging in the Capitol since 2019 in the third-floor rotunda, alongside other presidential portraits. Trump has expressed his displeasure over its unflattering portrayal and insists it be taken down.
The portrait was commissioned by former Colorado Senate President Kevin Grantham, who raised funds for the project. Boardman, known for painting Barack Obama’s portrait, has now found herself at the center of Trump’s criticism, as he compared her work to his own portrayal.
In a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump aired his frustrations, further fueling the debate over the artwork.
President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the portrait of himself hanging in the Colorado State Capitol, claiming it’s not just unflattering but a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote, “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.”
He continued, comparing the portrait to the one Boardman painted of Barack Obama, saying, “The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older.”
Trump also revealed that many Coloradans had reached out to express their disapproval of the portrait. He shared that they were upset by how he was depicted and expressed a preference for having no portrait at all rather than one so “distorted.”
In the same post, Trump took aim at Colorado Governor Jared Polis, stating he should be ashamed for allowing the controversial portrait to remain in the Capitol.
President Donald Trump continued his critique of the controversial portrait in the Colorado State Capitol, saying, “In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it! I am speaking on their behalf to the Radical Left Governor, Jared Polis, who is extremely weak on crime, particularly when it comes to the Tren de Aragua gang, which practically took over Aurora (Don’t worry, we saved it!). I’m demanding he take it down.” Trump concluded his post by declaring, “Jared should be ashamed of himself!”
The artist, Sarah Boardman, who painted the portrait, has expressed that her goal was to create a neutral representation of all the U.S. presidents in the gallery. In earlier comments, she stated that future generations would see Trump as just another president among the collection. Boardman emphasized that her work was intended to avoid political bias, saying, “In today’s environment, it’s all very upfront, but in another five, 10, 15 years, he will be another president on the wall. And he needs to look neutral.”
However, Trump’s response suggests that he feels her portrayal deviates from that standard and does not reflect a fair or neutral representation.
Governor Jared Polis responded to President Trump’s criticism of the portrait with a light-hearted and humorous remark, acknowledging the former president’s sudden interest in the artwork at the Colorado State Capitol.
A spokesperson from Polis’s office expressed surprise at Trump’s focus on the portrait, emphasizing that the Capitol, completed in 1901, is home to important historical artwork and architecture. The building features unique Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble, which was mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of past U.S. presidents and governors.
Polis’s team welcomed any interest in the Capitol and its artwork, suggesting that the state might look into ways to enhance the visitor experience. “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 spokesperson concluded.
