Artist Sarah Boardman's portrait of former President Donald Trump has been removed from the Colorado state capitol following Trump's public discontent with the artwork. In 2019, Colorado Republicans commissioned a portrait that became an instant embarrassment. Trump first termed it “purposefully distorted,” igniting a firestorm of controversy. He said he would rather have no portrait than what he considered to be an unflattering portrayal.
The portrait’s path to the Colorado capitol was decidedly less quirky. Days before its installation, a prankster snuck in and hung a photograph of Vladimir Putin above the very place where Trump’s portrait was meant to go. After this funny mishap, artistic freedom was not enough to protect Boardman from community backlash. Perhaps because of this, critics claimed that her portrait of Trump as “nonconfrontational” and “thoughtful” clashed with his public persona.
Donald Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the painting, stating that it "was purposefully distorted a level even I, perhaps, have never seen before." He noted that "nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves."
Colorado Republicans immediately raised more than $10,000 to commission the ornate oil painting for the project. This outreach effort was only one component of an overall inspiring tradition at the capitol. Presidential portraits before—and including today’s of the late Jimmy Carter—were given as a suite donation. The removal of Trump’s portrait would be a definitive break with this tradition.
Portrait by Sarah Boardman of former President Barack Obama, which Trump remarked was “wonderful.” As of Tuesday, when we attempted to confirm details surrounding Monday’s incident, she did not return phone or email messages.