Meet the artist who painted the portrait that Trump hates so much he ordered its removal: “it’s truly the worst”

Former President Donald Trump has voiced strong objections to a portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado State Capitol, claiming it was “intentionally distorted” while former President Barack Obama’s portrait was painted to look “wonderful.”

No, this is not a joke.

Taking to his social media website, Truth Social, the president argued that “nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,” adding that the portrait hung in the Colorado state capital, “along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even [he], perhaps, have never seen before.”

 “The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,” complained the president.

The president went even further, claiming that many people in Colorado had reached out to complain about the portrait, expressing their outrage.

Speaking on behalf of those who had complained, he called on the Colorado Governor to take down the portrait, attacking him as a leader who is “weak on crime.”

The portrait that angered Trump was unveiled in 2019

According to TIME, Governor Polis was not responsible for commissioning Trump’s portrait, nor is it a recent painting. The funding for presidential portraits in the Colorado State Capitol typically comes from private donations raised by Colorado Citizens for Culture. However, during Trump’s first term, no donations were received. Eventually, Republican Kevin Grantham raised the $10,000 needed for the portrait, which was unveiled in August 2019.

The artist behind the painting, Sarah A. Boardman, also painted Barack Obama’s portrait. Prior to her work, artist Lawrence Williams, who passed away in 2003, had painted the previous 43 presidential portraits.

Trump’s portrait removed from the Colorado Capitol

According to The Associated Press, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Republican, requested that Trump’s portrait be removed and replaced with one that “better represents his contemporary image.”

Democrats responded by calling the action taken by GOP lawmakers as wasteful and that the party should fund the effort. By Tuesday, March 25, the portrait had already been removed from the Colorado State Capitol.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.