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WASHINGTON (AP) — On Friday, the White House installed a new painting of President Donald Trump, illustrating a pivotal moment following an assassination attempt he survived last summer. This placement has moved the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to a nearby location.
Obama’s portrait was previously unveiled in 2022 and was displayed in the foyer of the State Floor, near the staircase leading to the presidential residence. While the White House maintains it remains in the foyer, the portrait has been repositioned to the opposite wall, previously occupied by George W. Bush’s portrait.
Plans are underway to relocate Bush’s portrait alongside that of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, which is located at the base of the staircase to the residence.
It is customary for the two most recent presidents’ portraits to be displayed in this prestigious foyer.
The newly hung painting, which the White House shared on its official X account, depicts the scene after an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July. Following the incident, Trump raised his fist in a defiant declaration of “Fight, fight, fight!”—a phrase that later emerged as a rallying call throughout his successful reelection endeavor.
The installation of Trump’s portrait occurred without prior announcement, which is somewhat atypical considering the practice of unveiling portraits in the White House. Trump’s circumstances are exceptional, as he holds the distinction of being both a current and a former president—a historical anomaly not seen since Grover Cleveland’s non-consecutive terms in the late 19th century.
During the unveiling of Obama’s portrait in 2022, then-President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted former President Obama and his wife, Michelle. Traditionally, it has been customary for sitting presidents to graciously host their immediate predecessors during such events, as was the case when Bill Clinton invited George H.W. Bush and when George W. Bush welcomed Clinton.
The Obamas similarly hosted George W. Bush and Laura Bush during the ceremony for Bush’s official portrait in 2012, which contrasts with the unexplained absence of an invitation for Obama during Trump’s administration.
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www.yahoo.com