Colorado officials will take down a portrait of President Donald Trump that is hanging in the state capitol after the president complained about it Sunday night, claiming it was “purposefully distorted” and that he would “much prefer not having a picture than having this one,” multiple outlets reported Monday evening.
A portrait of president Donald Trump hangs on a wall in the rotunda on the third floor of the ... More
State House Democrats said in a statement to the AP the painting would be removed at the request of Republican leaders, saying, “If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then that’s up to them.”
Trump went after the portrait on social media Sunday night, baselessly claiming in a Truth Social post it had been “purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before” and calling it “truly the worst.”
Trump called on Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to remove the portrait and said “Jared should be ashamed of himself!”Earlier on Monday, Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson in Polis’ office, told Forbes officials “appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
Forbes did not immediately hear back from Polis’ office for comment on whether the portrait was being taken down.
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Colorado Republicans raised more than $10,000 to commission the portrait during Trump’s first term, and it was unveiled in 2019. Artist Sarah Boardman created the piece, and her portrait of former President Barack Obama hangs in the Colorado Capitol, as well. According to her website, she also did a portrait of former President George W. Bush. Trump attacked Boardman in his Sunday night post, saying that while her portrait of Obama was “wonderful … She must have lost her talent as she got older.”
$10,884. That’s how much money then-Colorado Senate President Kevin J. Grantham, a Republican, raised in 2018 to commission Trump’s portrait, according to the GoFundMe he used to fundraise.
“Perceptions of presidential power change with the times and official portraits are merely portals to those lives, to be accepted or rejected by each viewer,” the artist told the Colorado Times Recorder ahead of the portrait being unveiled in 2019. “Formal official portraits, over generations, have stood on their own merit, leaving the legacy of the subject for the viewer to accept or reject.”
Trump’s portrait at Colorado Capitol to come down after president complained it was “purposefully distorted” (Denver Post)
Trump demands removal of his portrait in the Colorado Capitol and claims it was 'distorted' (Associated Press)