Last month, Vladimir Putin gifted Donald Trump a portrait of the US president. Trump’s Ukraine and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff delivered it to the White House after returning from Moscow, where he had met Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
The painting has only just been publicly revealed, though, with CNN given an exclusive look. It shows a fist-pumping Trump with blood streaming from his right ear in the immediate aftermath of his assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The Republican president looks heroic – and a few pounds lighter.
Wintkoff reportedly said Trump was “touched” by what he called “a beautiful portrait.”
Russian artist, Nikas Safronov, made the work, which he said was commissioned by a patron he suspects was the Kremlin. He told CNN: “It was very important to me to show the blood, the scar, and his bravery during the attempt on his life. He didn’t break down or become afraid, but raised his arm that he is one with America and will bring back what it deserves.”
“I realized this could bring our two countries together,” he added.
Safranov, who is well-known in Russia and has previously painted Pope Francis and Putin, told CNN that the Russian leader congratulated him on the portrait, saying it marked an important step in Russia’s relationship with the US.
Putin’s gift was delivered amid Washington’s attempts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. It looked like some progress may have been made when the Russian president announced a 30-hour “Easter truce.” However, Kyiv accused Russian troops of violating the ceasefire nearly 3,000 times by Easter Sunday, while Moscow claimed it had repelled hundreds of Ukrainian drones and shells.
Then, on the sidelines of the pope’s funeral last week, Trump met Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and questioned Putin’s willingness to end the conflict. After their meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social that he feared Putin was “tapping me along,” and that there was “no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas [of Ukraine].”
Two days before, Russia has launched its deadliest strike on Kyiv since last summer. In response, Trump posted last Thursday: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Any flattery Putin might have earned by giving Trump the portrait looks to have worn off, it seems.
At the beginning of April, another Trump portrait made the headlines when the US president posted online that the artist who painted it was “truly the worst.” The British painter in question, Sarah A Boardman, said the criticism called her “integrity into question” and was threatening her career.
