Donald Trump calls for removal of his portrait in Colorado's state capitol

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently publicly demanded the removal of his portrait hanging in the Colorado State Capitol. Trump believes that this painting "deliberately distorts" his image and fails to accurately reflect his true appearance, thus expressing strong dissatisfaction. This demand highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the portrayal of political figures in art.

Trump expressed his displeasure on the social media platform Truth Social, claiming that the painting contains serious distortions. He wrote: "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one hanging in the Colorado State Capitol, with the portraits of the governor and other presidents, is deliberately distorted to a degree I have never seen before. In any event, I would rather have no portrait than that one." This statement underscores his strong aversion to the artwork.

The controversial portrait was created by Colorado Springs artist Sarah A. Boardman and has been on display in the Colorado State Capitol since 2019. Boardman is known for creating portraits of several U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Trump commented: "This artist also painted President Obama, and he looks great, but mine is just awful. She must have lost her talent as she got older." This comparison adds fuel to the debate about the painting's accuracy and artistic merit.

Boardman said in a 2019 interview with The Denver Post that it was important to her that both presidents appear apolitical, as the presidential gallery tells the story of the nation, not of any one president. She said: "In today’s environment, everything is very straightforward, but in the next five, ten, fifteen years, he will just be another president on the wall, and he needs to look neutral." This perspective emphasizes the importance of objectivity in historical portraiture.

Former Colorado Senate President Kevin J. Grantham launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign in 2018, raising over $10,000 for the portrait. Trump mentioned in his post that many Colorado residents contacted him, expressing their dissatisfaction with the painting. "In fact, they are very angry about it!" he wrote, adding that he was speaking on their behalf and urging Governor Jared Polis to remove it. This suggests that the controversy surrounding the portrait extends beyond Trump's personal feelings.

The office of Colorado Governor Polis responded by saying: "Governor Polis is surprised to learn that the President of the United States is an enthusiast of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork. The State Capitol was completed in 1901 using rose onyx and white Yule marble mined in Colorado and displays portraits of former presidents and governors. We appreciate the President’s and everyone’s interest in our Capitol and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience." This response deflects the criticism and highlights the historical significance of the capitol building and its collection.