Trump’s Portrait Drama: Colorado Capitol To Remove "Distorted" Painting After Trump's Complaint

A portrait of Donald Trump hanging alongside other presidential portraits at the Colorado State Capitol will be taken down after Trump claimed it was "purposefully distorted," according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

House Democrats announced that the oil painting will be removed at the request of Republican leaders in the Legislature. Colorado Republicans had raised more than $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to commission the portrait, which was unveiled in 2019.

Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, requested the removal, saying it should be replaced with a version that reflects Trump's "contemporary likeness."

“If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, that’s up to them,” House Democrats responded.

The portrait was displayed alongside other paintings of U.S. presidents. Interestingly, before its installation, a prankster had placed a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin near the spot designated for Trump’s portrait.

Artist Sarah Boardman’s depiction of Trump as “nonconfrontational” and “thoughtful” had already drawn mixed reactions. However, Trump’s criticism came on Sunday night via his Truth Social platform. He expressed his preference for having no portrait at all over the current one, while praising a nearby portrait of former President Barack Obama — also painted by Boardman — saying “he looks wonderful.”

“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,” Trump wrote. “But the one in Colorado, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.”

The portraits at the Capitol are managed by the Colorado Building Advisory Committee, not the Governor’s office. The portraits up to President Jimmy Carter were donated as a collection, while more recent ones were paid for by political parties or private fundraising.

The Legislature’s executive committee — made up of both Democratic and Republican leaders — signed a letter directing the removal of Trump’s portrait. Lundeen noted that Grover Cleveland, who served non-consecutive terms like Trump, had a portrait from his second term.

Boardman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a 2019 interview with The Denver Post, she said it was important for her portraits of both Obama and Trump to appear apolitical.

“There will always be dissent, so pleasing one group will always inflame another. I consider a neutrally thoughtful, nonconfrontational portrait allows everyone to reach their own conclusions in their own time,” Boardman said.

Following Trump’s public comments, the portrait attracted a wave of visitors posing for photos before the announcement of its removal.

Aaron Howe, visiting from Wyoming, stood before the portrait, comparing it with photos of Trump on his phone. “Honestly, he looks a little chubby,” Howe said, “but better than I could do.”

Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, also took a photo with the painting. “I think it looks like him. I guess he’s smoother than all the other ones,” she said. “I think it’s fine.”