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White House Relocates Obama Portrait, Replaces with Trump Image
In a notable change to the White House decor, the official portrait of former President Barack Obama has been moved in the East Room and replaced with a painting of President Donald Trump. The Trump portrait depicts him with a raised fist, reportedly based on an image taken after a security incident at a rally in Pennsylvania last year. This alteration in artwork placement has drawn attention and sparked discussions regarding presidential traditions and White House aesthetics.
New Trump Portrait in Prominent Location
The portrait of President Trump appears to be inspired by a photograph of him as a candidate, visibly marked and surrounded by Secret Service personnel, remaining on stage following a reported security threat during a campaign event. This image, coupled with Trump’s repeated calls to “fight, fight, fight,” became a defining symbol of his campaign for a second presidential term.
The White House publicized the change via a brief video shared on X on Friday, accompanied by the caption, “Some new artwork at the White House.”
Obama Spokesperson Declines Immediate Comment
A representative for Mr. Obama did not immediately offer a response to a request for comment on Friday evening.
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Traditional Placement Disrupted
The position now occupied by the Trump painting is traditionally designated for the most recent official presidential portrait. Former President Joe Biden, who departed office in January, does not yet have an official portrait completed.
While custom suggests that portraits in this location, situated in the foyer adjacent to the East Room near the White House entrance, typically feature recent presidents, this is not a rigid rule, according to a former White House official who spoke to NBC News. The president retains the authority to instruct the curator to rearrange displayed items.
Precedent for Portrait Relocations
The former official recalled that during his initial term, President Trump had previously relocated the portraits of former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, indicating a past practice of altering portrait arrangements.
Notably, an official portrait from President Trump’s term had not been completed. Such portraits are conventionally unveiled during a successor’s administration. Inquiries regarding this matter were previously directed by the Biden administration to the White House Historical Association, the organization responsible for facilitating the acquisition of presidential and first lady portraits since 1965.
Broader Redecoration Effort
The relocation of President Obama’s portrait was not isolated. The 44th president’s likeness was repositioned to the space formerly held by George W. Bush’s portrait. Mr. Bush’s portrait has now been moved to the staircase, according to a White House source.
White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields shared a photograph on Friday illustrating the new location of the Obama portrait.
Political Reactions Emerge
Various Republicans publicly commented on the updated decor. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent supporter of President Trump, shared a comparative image showcasing the location before and after the portrait swap. “Much better,” the Georgia representative commented.
Series of Portrait-Related Events
This replacement follows recent portrait-related incidents. Last month, President Trump requested the removal of his portrait from the Colorado State House, which was promptly taken down. Furthermore, in January, a portrait of former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mark Milley was abruptly removed from its designated wall in the Pentagon, marking a series of unexpected changes to official portrait displays in various locations.