Trump Replaces Obama’s Portrait with His Own Fist-Pump Image at White House
US President Donald Trump has replaced the official portrait of former President Barack Obama in the White House’s grand entrance hallway with a painting depicting him surviving an assassination attempt.
Trump, aged 78, moved Obama’s portrait—unveiled in 2022 by then-President Joe Biden—to a new location, previously occupied by George W. Bush’s portrait. Bush’s portrait has now been relocated to the staircase.
The new portrait of Trump shows him with a fist raised in defiance immediately after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. This image, along with Trump’s rallying cry of “fight, fight, fight,” became a key moment in his presidential campaign. The White House shared the news with a brief video on social media platform X, captioned, “Some new artwork at the White House.”
This move underscores the long-standing rivalry between Trump and Obama, which started during Trump’s 2016 campaign when he promoted the false “birther” conspiracy about Obama’s citizenship. Obama responded by mocking Trump, including during the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Presidential portraits have been a tradition since George Washington’s presidency, typically displayed in the White House or loaned from the National Portrait Gallery. While these portraits are usually oil paintings, photography is increasingly used. Since 1965, the White House Historical Association has helped acquire portraits of presidents and first ladies.
Trump’s decision to replace Obama’s portrait while still in office is rare, as most presidents have their portraits unveiled after leaving office. Trump, however, has long been outspoken about self-promotion, recently showcasing a gold-framed version of his mugshot outside the Oval Office and a bronze sculpture of his assassination attempt response at Mar-a-Lago.
In response to criticism, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told a critic on X, “Pipe down, moron.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally, praised the new portrait, sharing a side-by-side comparison and writing, “Much better.”
Obama’s portrait wasn’t the only one relocated. George W. Bush’s portrait now hangs on the staircase, while Trump’s portrait takes the place traditionally reserved for the most recent official presidential portrait. Former President Joe Biden’s official portrait has not yet been completed, as the process typically occurs after a president leaves office.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made waves with his portrait-related actions. Last month, he demanded the removal of a painting of himself from the Colorado State House, which was subsequently taken down. In January, a portrait of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley disappeared from its designated spot in the Pentagon.
Though presidential portraits are usually displayed in the White House’s foyer in order of tenure, the president can request rearrangements, as Trump has done. During his first term, Trump moved the portraits of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. His own official portrait from that term, however, remains unseen, with no clear date for its unveiling.
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