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The president Donald Trump sparked controversy again after publicly demanding the removal of his presidential portrait from the Colorado State Capitol, describing the artwork as "deliberately distorted" and stating that "it might be the worst painting" he has ever seen of himself.
Through a message posted on Truth Social, Trump harshly criticized both the outcome of the painting and its creator, the artist Sarah A. Boardman, who also created the official portrait of Barack Obama for the same space.
"The artist also created one of President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one of me is truly the worst. I must have lost my talent as I've aged," the president stated.
Trump also took the opportunity to attack the Democratic governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, whom he described as a "radical left governor" and "extremely weak on crime." "Jared should be ashamed of himself!" he declared.
The story behind the controversial portrait
The controversy surrounding Trump's portrait is not new. In 2018, the organization Colorado Citizens for Culture —responsible for funding presidential portraits in the state Capitol through private donations— had not received enough funds to commission the official painting of Trump.
According to DW, the lack of support generated headlines when an activist placed a fake portrait of Vladimir Putin in the empty space, provoking a strong reaction among Republican circles.
The incident led the then-president of the state Senate, Kevin Grantham, to launch a GoFundMe campaign, which successfully raised the necessary $10,000 in just 32 hours.
The artist Sarah A. Boardman, of British origin and residing in Colorado Springs, was selected to create the portrait, which took approximately four months to complete. The work was based on a photograph approved by the Capitol Building Advisory Committee and was unveiled in August 2019.
Boardman defended his work by claiming that he aimed to maintain a realistic and neutral style, similar to other presidential portraits. “My portrait of President Trump has been described as reflective, non-confrontational, neither angry nor happy, not tweeting,” he said in statements to Time magazine.
In an interview with the Colorado Times Reporter, he also stated that his personal politics do not influence his art: “When I start painting a portrait, it is the portrait, the likeness, and the ‘essence’ of the subject that I am trying to capture. Any personal feelings about any issue are irrelevant.”
For now, the portrait remains on display at the state Capitol, as part of the presidential gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Portrait of Trump in the Colorado Capitol
Why does Donald Trump want to remove his portrait from the Colorado Capitol?
Donald Trump described his portrait as "purposely distorted" and "the worst painting" he has ever seen of himself. He also criticized the artist Sarah A. Boardman for the quality of the work, unfavorably comparing it to the portrait of Barack Obama done by the same artist.
What is the story behind the presidential portrait of Trump in Colorado?
In 2018, the organization Colorado Citizens for Culture had not received enough funding to commission the official portrait of Trump. An activist placed a fake portrait of Vladimir Putin in the empty space, which quickly led to raising the necessary funds through GoFundMe. Ultimately, the portrait was created by Sarah A. Boardman and was unveiled in August 2019.
What has the artist Sarah A. Boardman said about Trump's criticism of her portrait?
Sarah A. Boardman defended her work by stating that she aimed to maintain a realistic and neutral style in her portrayal of Trump, similar to that of other presidential portraits. She declared that her personal politics do not influence her art and that she focuses on capturing the "essence" of the subject.
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