The Colorado State Capitol is about to get a new portrait of former President Donald Trump—this time one he actually approves of. The White House has donated what appears to be Trump’s official photograph to replace a previous painting he criticized as “purposefully distorted.” That painting, created by artist Sarah Boardman and unveiled in 2019, was removed in March after Trump publicly lambasted it, claiming it portrayed him unfairly while flattering former President Obama.
The decision to hang the new portrait was made by Lois Court, chair of the Capitol Building Advisory Committee, along with two Democratic lawmakers. Court confirmed the replacement is already being framed. While the new image aims to quiet controversy, the committee is also considering removing all presidential portraits entirely to make space for paintings of Colorado governors.
The earlier portrait was funded through a $10,000 GoFundMe campaign led by Republican state senator Kevin Grantham. That effort followed a bizarre protest in 2018 when activists hung a large painting of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Trump’s designated space, mocking the delay in securing funds for his official image.
Trump also used the opportunity to criticize Colorado Governor Jared Polis, accusing him of being weak on crime and falsely suggesting Polis was behind the controversial portrait—despite the fact it was commissioned before he took office. Artist Boardman has said the backlash is harming her 41-year art career and insists politics played no role in her work.
Trump wasn’t thrilled with his wax figure currently featured at Walt Disney World’s Hall of presidents, in Orlando Florida. . As the new photo makes its way to the wall, the Capitol continues to wrestle with how to balance history, politics, and public opinion—all while keeping the paint on the walls a little less controversial.
