We know this because former President Donald Trump complained about it in a truth posted in response to a portrait of himself hanging in the Colorado State Capitol. That artwork—largely paid for by Trump’s Republican backers—has created quite a bit of outrage, with Trump himself seeing the work as a deliberate insult. Trump is portrayed by the artist as cherubic and full-faced, with not one line on his face. This negative depiction has, unsurprisingly, not gone down at all well with the former president.
Read Trump’s full statement on Truth Social, expressing his alarm. He proposed that the portrayal was a purposeful effort to slander him. The painting, originally meant to celebrate his presidency with other leaders, has since turned into a source of conflict. Trump’s displeasure over the artwork—more so than other recent instances of artistic censorship—directly resulted in its removal from the state capitol.
"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," stated Trump.
This is especially prominent in the painting’s removal following explicit orders from Trump, showcasing the president’s sensitivity to bad press. He’s going for a backlit look that evokes one of those Batman bad dudes. This decision is a very different one than the cherubic image depicted in the Colorado mural. Trump himself angrily compared himself to Henry VIII after a close shave, showing just how unhappy he was. With a laugh, he noted that he has two fewer wives than the notorious king.
"The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst," Trump remarked.
This unfortunate episode is occurring in the wake of yet another indictment as Trump was just defeated in the 2024 presidential election by 11 points. Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, didn’t paint it or hang it there. Don’t you know, he became embroiled in the smackdown because the artwork was hung in the capitol.
What’s most notable about the Trump administration’s reaction is that it speaks to Trump’s long-standing fixation on public optics. His desire for such a flattering portrayal fits neatly within his larger crusade to control the narrative around his public appearance. This episode is just another illustration of Trump’s thin skin and vindictiveness towards those he perceives to be dissing him.
The story of the painting’s original crowdfunding campaign and its short-lived removal further reflect this complicated tapestry between art and politics. Though conceived as a gesture of appreciation, the work quickly turned out to be a flashpoint for discussion. This example highlights the fragility of political depictions and their ability to elicit fierce backlash.