Donald Trump is demanding a portrait of himself be taken down, claiming it was “purposefully distorted” and has angered people. The US President wants the painting in Colorado’s State Capitol, which was unveiled in 2019, removed, claiming “many people” have complained.
He said the artist behind the painting made former president Barack Obama, a Democrat, look “wonderful” but that “she must have lost her talent as she got older”. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “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. “The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older.”
He added: “I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it!”
The President wrote that he is speaking to “Radical Left” Democrat Governor Jared Polis about taking the painting down, saying he “should be ashamed of himself”.
Governor Polis was not behind the painting, which was commissioned in 2018, months before he took office, according to reports.
A spokesperson for Governor Polis told The Hill: “Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.
“The State Capitol was completed in 1901, and features Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of former Presidents and former governors.
“We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
In 2018, an activist placed a painting of Russian President Vladimir Putin where Mr Trump’s portrait was meant to hang after Republicans reportedly could not raise the funds required to get a picture painted.
Colorado Republicans then raised more than $10,000 to commission the portrait by Sarah Boardman which was unveiled a year later – around halfway through Mr Trump’s first term in office.
The artist told Colorado Public Radio at the time: “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.”
After expressing his anger over the painting on Truth Social, the President went on to post two portraits of himself without any caption.