'Take it down': Trump slams his portrait in Colorado's state capitol
By Sohani Goonetillake
Topic:World Politics
8m ago8 minutes agoMon 24 Mar 2025 at 8:35am
A hung up portrait of a man in formal attire with a gold frame.
Trump took to Truth Social to air his grievances, stating that the painting did not accurately depict him. (Truth Social: @realDonaldTrump)
In short:
Donald Trump took to Truth Social to call for the removal of his portrait in Colorado's state capitol, claiming it is "purposefully distorted".
The oil painting, created by artist Sarah A Boardman, was funded by a GoFundMe campaign and has been displayed in the capitol since 2019.
The Colorado governor expressed surprise at Mr Trump's interest in the artwork.
US President Donald Trump has demanded the removal of a portrait of himself hanging in Colorado's state capitol, claiming the oil painting is "purposefully distorted".
Mr Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday night (US time) to air his grievances, stating that the painting did not accurately depict him.
"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 the other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before," Mr Trump wrote.
"In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one."
Mr Trump went on to post images of his official first-term presidential portrait and his current presidential portrait without any accompanying text on Truth Social.
Social media post of a portrait of a man in a suit with his eyebrow raised and a US flag in the background.
Mr Trump went on to post his current presidential portrait without any accompanying text on Truth Social. (Truth Social: @realDonaldTrump)
The presidential portrait, which has been displayed in the Colorado capitol since 2019, was created by Colorado Springs artist Sarah A Boardman, known for her work on portraits of several US presidents, including Barack Obama and George W Bush.
"The artist also did president Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,"
Mr Trump said.
"She must have lost her talent as she got older."
Ms Boardman told The Denver Post in 2019, it was important to her that both men look apolitical because the gallery of presidents is about the story of the nation and not one president.
"In today's environment it's all very up-front, but in another five, 10, 15 years he will be another president on the wall," she said.
"And he needs to look neutral."
The portrait was funded by a GoFundMe campaign organised by former Colorado senate president Kevin J Grantham in 2018, which raised over $US10,000 ($15,890).
In his post, Mr Trump mentioned that many Colorado residents had reached out to him, expressing dissatisfaction with the portrait.
"In fact, they are actually angry about it!" he wrote, adding that he was speaking on their behalf and urged Governor Jared Polis to take it down.
Governor Polis' office responded by issuing this statement to multiple outlets:
"Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the president of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork," the statement said.
"The state capitol was completed in 1901, and features Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of former presidents and former governors."
"We appreciate the president and everyone's interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience."
Posted8m ago8 minutes agoMon 24 Mar 2025 at 8:35am
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