Donald Trump recently expressed his dissatisfaction with a portrait of himself displayed in Colorado’s State Capitol, labelling it “distorted.” He attributed the commissioning of the artwork to Colorado Governor Jared Polis, whom he criticised for allowing the painting to be hung in the state house. Trump voiced his concerns on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling for the portrait’s removal.
In his posts, Trump claimed that not only did he find the painting unflattering, but that residents of Colorado were also displeased with it. He stated, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,” and went on to argue that the artwork was intentionally distorted to an unprecedented degree. Trump referenced the artist, Sarah Boardman, who previously painted Barack Obama during his presidency, noting that Obama’s portrayal was far more flattering. He remarked, “He looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst.”
Trump also suggested that Boardman’s artistic skills might have declined with age, saying, “She must have lost her talent as she got older,” and asserted that he would prefer there be no painting at all rather than displaying that particular piece. He expressed that many Colorado constituents had reached out to him, expressing their disapproval and anger over the artwork.
In a rather accusatory tone, he stated that Governor Polis should feel “ashamed of himself” for featuring such a depiction in the Capitol. To illustrate his own standards for official portraits, Trump shared an image of his presidential portrait, juxtaposing it against the contentious artwork.
The portrait in question was unveiled back in 2019 and has now become a point of contention, symbolising the ongoing tensions between Trump and various state officials. As a high-profile figure, Trump’s opinions on public representations of his image continue to attract attention, demonstrating the intersection of art, politics, and public perception.