Denver, Colorado
AP
—
A portrait of Donald Trump, displayed alongside other presidential paintings at the Colorado state Capitol, is set to be removed following Trump’s assertion that it was “deliberately distorted,” according to a letter acquired by the Associated Press.
In a statement, House Democrats shared that the oil painting would be removed at the request of Republican leaders in the Legislature. Colorado Republicans successfully raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to commission the painting, which was unveiled in 2019.
Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, stated he had requested that Trump’s portrait be replaced with one “that accurately portrays his likeness.”
The Democrats commented, “If the GOP wishes to invest time and resources in determining which portrait of Trump is displayed in the Capitol, that is their prerogative.”
The portrait was showcased alongside those of former U.S. presidents. Notably, prior to its installation, a prankster placed a photograph of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the designated spot for Trump’s portrait.
Initially, observers expressed discontent with artist Sarah Boardman’s portrayal of Trump as “nonconfrontational” and “thoughtful,” as noted in a past interview with the Colorado Times Recorder.
However, in a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday night, Trump expressed that he would prefer no portrait at all rather than the one currently displayed in the Colorado Capitol. He praised a nearby portrait of former President Barack Obama—also created by Boardman—saying “he looks wonderful.”
“No one appreciates a poor representation of themselves, but the one in Colorado, situated in the state Capitol and presented by the Governor, was deliberately distorted to a degree that even I, perhaps, have never witnessed before,” Trump commented.
The portraits are not overseen by the Colorado governor’s office but by the Colorado Building Advisory Committee. Those up to and including President Jimmy Carter were donated collectively, while subsequent portraits were either contributed by political parties or funded through external fundraising efforts.
The executive committee of the Legislature, which includes both Democratic and Republican leaders, endorsed a letter calling for the removal of Trump’s portrait. Lundeen, the Republican senator who initiated this request, pointed out that Grover Cleveland, who had non-consecutive presidential terms like Trump, received a portrait for his second term.
Boardman did not respond promptly to a request for comment from The Associated Press. In earlier interviews with The Denver Post, she emphasized the importance of both Obama’s and Trump’s portrayals maintaining an apolitical stance.
“Dissent is inevitable; thus, satisfying one faction will invariably upset another. I believe that a neutrally thoughtful and nonconfrontational portrait enables everyone to form their conclusions in their own time,” Boardman remarked in a 2019 interview with the Colorado Times Recorder.
Trump’s comments on Sunday night led to an influx of visitors posing for photos with the painting before the announcement of its removal.
Aaron Howe, who was visiting from Wyoming, stood in front of Trump’s portrait, alternating between glancing at photos of the president on his phone and the painting itself.
“Honestly, he looks a bit chubby,” Howe remarked of the portrait, but acknowledged, “better than I could do.”
“I don’t know much about the artist,” said Howe, who supported Trump. “The portrayal could be interpreted in various ways.”
Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, took a photo with the portrait.
“I think it resembles him. He seems more refined than the others,” she commented. “I think it’s acceptable.”
