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Former President Donald Trump recently voiced his discontent regarding a portrait of himself that has been on display in the Colorado State Capitol since its unveiling in 2019.
He expressed his dissatisfaction through a post on his Truth Social platform, stating, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.” He characterized the painting as exceptionally unflattering.
In contrast, Trump praised a portrait of President Barack Obama, also created by the portrait’s artist, Sarah Boardman, stating that it “looks wonderful.”
He described his own portrayal as “truly the worst,” highlighting a sense of grievance over its representation.
A photograph captures Trump’s portrait during its unveiling ceremony on August 1, 2019, in Denver. The portrait, commissioned by Colorado Republicans, raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe initiative to fund its creation by Boardman, who also painted Obama’s portrait that hangs in the Capitol.
The former president claimed that numerous individuals have reached out to him with concerns about the portrait, placing blame on Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) for its alleged shortcomings.
“Jared should be ashamed of himself!” Trump remarked, urging the governor to remove the painting from its display.
However, it’s important to note that Polis was not in office when the portrait was commissioned; the decision was made in 2018 after a light-hearted prank involving a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin was placed in a location where Trump’s image was expected. At the time, no funds had been raised to commission Trump’s portrait, leading to the temporary placement of the Putin image.
The crowdfunding campaign led by then-Colorado Senate President Kevin Grantham eventually secured funding for Trump’s portrait after the story gained traction.
During the unveiling, Boardman expressed her artistic intent, noting her hope that her portrayal would remain relevant and timeless. “In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another president on the wall who is only historical background and he needs to look neutral,” she stated, as reported by Colorado Public Radio.
She elaborated on her approach to portraying subjects, emphasizing a desire to depict the “essence” of the individual without letting personal opinions influence her work. In an interview about the painting process, she remarked, “Any personal feelings about any subject are not relevant and are left outside the studio per my training to ‘leave those emotions at the door.’”
As time has passed, Trump’s reaction to the portrait suggests that his feelings toward it have intensified, igniting further commentary and criticism from his detractors.
His vocal dissatisfaction has been met with a mocking reaction from critics, who have expressed amusement over the former president’s ongoing grievances about the artwork.
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