WASHINGTON (AP) — On Friday, the White House unveiled a painting of President Donald Trump, depicting a moment shortly after an assassination attempt against him last summer, which replaced the official portrait of former President Barack Obama.
Introducing a new presidential portrait without prior notice is uncommon, and Trump’s decision to occupy that space could be interpreted as a departure from established norms. Traditionally, the portraits of the two most immediate former presidents are displayed in the foyer, and Trump occupies the distinct role of also being a former president.
Obama’s portrait was placed in the foyer of the State Floor, close to the staircase leading to the president’s residence, after its unveiling in 2022. According to the White House, while it remains in the foyer, it has been relocated to the opposite wall, where the portrait of former President George W. Bush once was.
Plans are underway to move Bush’s portrait closer to that of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, which is located on the staircase leading to the residence.
The unexpected change was announced by the White House on its official X account, featuring a photo of the new painting, along with a message stating, “Some new artwork at the White House” accompanied by a pair of emoji eyes. The painting depicts the aftermath of an attempt on Trump’s life during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he sustained a wound to the ear and raised his fist, declaring, “fight, fight, fight!”
These words evolved into a central rallying cry for his successful reelection campaign.
The original canvas was created by artist Marc Lipp and donated to the White House by Andrew Pollock through the Blue Gallery in Delray Beach, Florida, as stated by the White House.
Lipp’s online biography on the Blue Gallery website describes him as “a Modern Pop Artist who conveys his passion for art through paintings and sculptures.” Pollock, an author and advocate for school safety, is the father of Meadow Pollock, who tragically lost her life in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Traditionally, the sitting president has graciously hosted the most recent immediate predecessor during the unveiling of their portrait, but Trump did not extend that invitation to Obama.
Instead, it was up to then-President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to welcome former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits in 2022. This was in contrast to how Democrat Bill Clinton welcomed Republican George W. Bush, and how the younger President Bush welcomed Clinton.
The Obamas had previously hosted George W. Bush and Laura Bush at the White House for their portrait unveiling in 2012.
There was an unexplained gap in which Trump did not host Obama during his first term.
Biden left office nearly three months ago, and it will likely take several years before the portraits of him and former First Lady Jill Biden are commissioned and completed.
Trump has also been involved with artwork outside the White House.
Last month, a portrait of Trump that had been displayed alongside other presidential portraits at the Colorado State Capitol was removed after he claimed that his likeness was “purposefully distorted.”
The collection of presidential portraits at the White House begins with George Washington, the nation’s first president. Congress was responsible for purchasing his portrait.
Many early president and first lady portraits were gifted to the White House. Since the 1960s, the majority of the paintings have been funded by the White House Historical Association. The first portraits financed by the association were of Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, and John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, as mentioned by Stewart McLaurin, president of the private, nonprofit organization established by first lady Kennedy.
Millions of visitors to the White House view portraits of presidents and first ladies, although not all of them are on display. Some are undergoing conservation, while others are in storage.
Displayed portraits can be seen throughout the hallways and public areas of the mansion, including the Ground Floor and its Vermeil and China Rooms, as well as the State Floor, which features the famous Green, Blue, and Red Rooms, the East Room, and the State Dining Room.
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Superville reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.
