Colorado officials stated on Monday that a portrait of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which was hanging in the state capitol, would be removed after Trump claimed the portrait was "deliberately distorted." The decision to remove the portrait highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding depictions of political figures.
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03-26, 2025House Democrats said in a statement that the painting was removed at the request of Republican leaders in the legislature. The Democrats stated, "If the Republicans want to spend their time and money on a portrait of Trump, that's their business." This suggests a partisan divide over the value and appropriateness of displaying the portrait.
The portrait was created by artist Sarah Boardman during Trump's first term and unveiled in 2019. Colorado Republicans raised over $10,000 (approximately $15,908) through a GoFundMe account to commission the painting, demonstrating strong support for the project among certain groups.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night that he would rather not have a portrait than the one hanging in the Colorado capitol. He also praised a nearby portrait of former President Barack Obama, also by Boardman, saying "he looks great." Trump wrote, "Nobody likes a bad picture or portrait of themselves, but the one in the Colorado Capitol, and being placed with the portraits of all of the Governors, & all other Presidents, is so incredibly distorted that I may never get over it."
The portraits do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Governor's Office but are instead the responsibility of the Colorado Building Advisory Committee. Boardman did not immediately respond to the Associated Press's request for comment. She had previously told The Denver Post that it was important that her depictions of both Obama and Trump appeared "apolitical."
Prior to the announcement that the portrait would be removed, Trump's comments prompted a steady stream of visitors to come and take pictures with the artwork. Aaron Howe, a visitor from Wyoming, stood in front of Trump's portrait, looking down at a photo of the president on his phone before looking back up at the portrait. He said, "Honestly, he looks a little chubby, but better than I could paint." Howe also stated, "I don't know the artist; that could be taken different ways."
Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, took a picture with the portrait. She said, "I think it looks like him. I think he looks softer than other portraits. I think it's good." This illustrates the diverse opinions on the portrait's accuracy and artistic merit among the public.
