Trump Receives New Portrait from Putin Amid Criticism of Existing Artwork
Former US President Donald Trump has reportedly received a new portrait as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin, coinciding with Trump’s public criticism of a previous portrait of himself, which he described as “truly the worst.”
Kremlin Confirms “Personal Gift”
The newly gifted artwork has not yet been publicly revealed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the exchange, characterizing it as a “personal gift” from Putin to Trump. Peskov indicated that further details regarding the portrait would only be disclosed by President Putin himself.
Trump Condemns Colorado Capitol Portrait
Simultaneously, Trump employed his social media platform, Truth Social, to voice strong disapproval of an earlier portrait that had been displayed in the Colorado State Capitol building. This particular portrait was removed on Monday.
Focus on Image and Official Portraits
Throughout his career and presidency, Trump has consistently demonstrated a keen awareness of his public image. Earlier this year, he garnered media attention with the unveiling of his official portrait, which sparked diverse reactions, ranging from “serious” to “ominous” among critics.
Envoy Confirms Receipt and Positive Reaction
Steve Witkoff, identified as Trump’s envoy, verified the receipt of the portrait from Moscow. He stated he was tasked with transporting the artwork back to Washington.
Witkoff described the gift as a “beautiful portrait” painted by a “leading Russian artist.” He refrained from offering further artistic critique, but noted that Trump was “clearly touched” by the gesture.
Gift Amidst Diplomatic Engagement
Peskov’s confirmation of the portrait exchange comes as negotiators from the US and Russia reconvened for discussions in Saudi Arabia. These talks are reportedly part of Trump’s broader initiative to seek resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Signs of Thawing Relations
The exchange of gifts is seen by some observers as a sign of improving diplomatic relations between the two nations following Trump’s return to the White House in January.
Putin’s “Gracious” Gesture
In an interview, Witkoff, who recently met with Putin, described the Russian president as “gracious.” He recounted that Putin expressed having “prayed for Trump” following an assassination attempt against him last year.
Iconic Image from Pennsylvania Rally
The assassination attempt referenced by Putin, which occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania, resulted in what many consider an iconic image of Trump.
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci captured the moment where a defiant Trump, with a visible injury, raised a fist to supporters while urging them to “fight, fight, fight.” This image gained further prominence after Trump featured it on the cover of one of his books.
Trump’s Displeasure with Colorado Portrait
While Trump has not yet publicly commented on the portrait received from Putin, his remarks regarding the Colorado State Capitol portrait made his artistic preferences clear.
He asserted on Truth Social that the 2019 portrait was “purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.”
Rare Praise for Obama Portrait
In a contrasting statement, Trump offered unusual praise for a portrait of his predecessor, Barack Obama, created by the same artist, English-born Sarah Boardman. Trump described Obama as looking “wonderful” in his depiction.
Political Dimension and Portrait Commission
Trump linked his criticism to political motives, characterizing Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, as “radical” and “extremely weak on crime.”
However, reports from US media clarified that the portrait was not connected to Governor Polis. It was reportedly the result of a crowdfunding effort initiated by a Republican. The commission aimed to fill a space previously occupied briefly by a prank image of Vladimir Putin.
Colorado Portrait Removed Amid Backlash
Following public criticism, Colorado House leadership ordered the removal of the portrait on Monday afternoon, according to a spokesman for Colorado’s House Democrats. The artwork is now held in a secure location “until further notice.”
Artist’s Perspective on Presidential Portraiture
The BBC has sought comment from Ms. Boardman. In a 2019 interview with the Colorado Times Recorder, she acknowledged the inherent contentiousness of presidential portraits, stating that “there will always be anger at a president from one side or the other. It is human nature.”
Nuances of Presidential Portraits
Another portrait artist, speaking to the BBC, suggested they “would have painted things slightly differently.” However, they emphasized the intricate nature of presidential portraiture and expressed empathy for Boardman.
Public Perception and Artistic Quality
Robert Anderson, the artist behind President George W. Bush’s official portrait in the US National Portrait Gallery, noted that viewers often bring pre-existing biases to their interpretation of such artwork, influenced by their personal feelings about the subject.
Anderson argued that reactions to portraits often “had very little to do with the quality of art itself.”
Challenges in Portraying Trump
Regarding painting Trump, Anderson commented, “I think it would be very difficult to paint him because he has a particular impression of himself which might be very different to that of many others – probably at least half of the country.”
Governor’s Office Responds
A spokesperson for Governor Polis, speaking to 9News, stated that the governor was “surprised to learn the president of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork.”
The spokesperson added, “We appreciate the president and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”