N
ot every state capitol showcases a collection of presidential portraits, but Colorado takes pride in having one. However, President Donald Trump has requested that his portrait be taken down.
“Nobody enjoys a poor picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, located in the State Capitol, installed by the Governor, alongside all other Presidents, was intentionally distorted to an extent that even I have perhaps never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday night. “I would rather not have a picture than possess this one.”
Trump mentioned that “many individuals” from Colorado have voiced their complaints about the portrait: “In fact, they are really upset about it!” He stated that he has reached out to Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis, whom Trump referred to as a “Radical Left Governor” who is “extremely weak on Crime,” urging him to remove the portrait. “Jared should be ashamed of himself!” Trump concluded.
A representative from the governor’s office informed Denver’s 9News that Gov. Polis was “surprised to discover that the President of the United States is an admirer of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork. … We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always seeking opportunities to enhance our visitor experience.”
The truth is that Polis was not the one who commissioned the Trump portrait initially—nor was it any political adversary of the President. In fact, it has been displayed for years. Here’s what you need to know.
The funding for the portraits in the Colorado State Capitol generally originates from private donations gathered by Colorado Citizens for Culture, a grassroots organization that advocates for the arts within the state. During Trump’s initial term, the group sought to raise $10,000 to commission a portrait of him. However, in 2018, the organization’s president, Jay Seller, reported that not a single donation had been received.
In July of that year, a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin was displayed on an easel in the void where Trump’s portrait was expected to be, following an incident where a member of the progressive advocacy group ProgressNow Colorado sneaked in. Katie March, the Democratic legislative staffer who assisted in the act, had her security clearances revoked and faced disciplinary consequences. “We hope that public awareness has increased regarding the risk of Russian influence on the President of the United States,” commented ProgressNow Colorado’s executive director Ian Silverii to 9News. “Next time we’ll use the front door.”
The act sparked outrage among Republicans, making headlines both nationally and internationally, while also drawing attention to the absence of Trump’s official portrait. Kevin Grantham, the then-President of the state Senate, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to secure funding for a portrait. In about 32 hours, the campaign reached its goal of $10,000 through contributions from approximately 200 donors, including several prominent state Republicans and former Democratic state representative Dan Pabon, who expressed to Colorado Public Radio: “The hall of presidential portraits is an essential exhibit for school-aged students visiting here, and I wanted to ensure that they experienced the full scope of all Presidents elected.”
At the August 2019 unveiling ceremony of the portrait at the State Capitol, which was presented as a nonpartisan event albeit organized by Colorado’s Senate Republicans, Grantham described the crowdfunding endeavor as “fitting” for a “populist” figure like Trump.
British-born artist Sarah A. Boardman, based in Colorado Springs, was commissioned to create the portrait. Boardman had previously painted Barack Obama’s portrait after the passing of Lawrence Williams, the artist who had executed all 43 previous presidential portraits in 2003. During the unveiling ceremony, Boardman stated that she aimed to emulate the classical realist style of Williams’ works, and it took her approximately four months to complete the painting of Trump, based on a photograph selected and approved by the Capitol Building Advisory Committee.
“My portrait of President Trump has been described as thoughtful, non-confrontational, neither angry nor happy, and devoid of tweeting,” Boardman noted at the time. “In five, 10, 15, or 20 years, he will merely be another President on the wall, existing as historical context, and he needs to appear neutral.”
TIME has reached out to Grantham and Boardman for their thoughts on the current controversy.
Trump is not the only President to find a portrait unappealing. Theodore Roosevelt despised his White House portrait by French artist Theobald Chartran in 1902, claiming it made him resemble a “mewing cat.” He concealed the painting in his closet and eventually had it destroyed, replacing it with another artist’s work. Whether Trump’s portrait in Colorado will face a similar destiny remains uncertain. However, there is one portrait commissioned elsewhere that Trump reportedly favors more: U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff informed conservative media commentator Tucker Carlson on Friday that Trump was “clearly touched” after Putin recently presented Witkoff with a “beautiful” portrait of the U.S. President, a piece commissioned by the Russian President from a prominent Russian artist.
