The White House has reshuffed its artwork on display, with the official portrait of former President Barack Obama replaced by a painting of President Donald Trump.
“Some new artwork at the White House,” reads the video caption that the White House posted on X documenting the switch on Friday.
The new portrait features Trump raising his fist in the air, following a pivotal moment on the campaign trail, while seeking a second term, when a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at an event in Butler, Pennsylvania. The bullet grazed the now-president’s ear.
Though the painting doesn’t include any blood, it appears to be based on a photo from that day with Trump surrounded by Secret Service agents and still onstage after he was shot. Accompanied by Trump’s words to “fight, fight, fight”, the image became a rallying cry for his second-term bid.
Presidential portraits have been funded by the nonprofit White House Historical Association since the early 1960s. Prior to that, the portraits were funded by Congress, friends, or even by the president himself.
The Obama portrait, painted by artist Robert McCurdy in his trademark white background and photorealist style, was relocated from the foyer in the White House’s East Room (where one would walk in) to the Grand Foyer.
The Obama portrait’s new location was posted in a photo on X by the White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields on Friday. It was moved to the spot where George W. Bush’s portrait was hung, while the Bush painting was moved to the staircase.
Traditionally, the spot where Trump’s portrait is now hung has been reserved for the most recent official presidential portrait. However, former President Joe Biden has not yet had an official portrait made since his January departure. For his part, Trump also does not have an official portrait from his first term.
Though the move is unusual, it’s not altogether forbidden. During his first term, Trump also had portraits of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush rearranged as well.
Trump has been very particular about the art and architecture schema throughout the United States, with an executive order mandating classical architecture for government buildings and the reallocation NEH funding to a sculpture garden of American heroes.
