Trump Demands His Presidential Portrait Be Taken Down Immediately After Observing How It Looked
US

Trump Demands His Presidential Portrait Be Taken Down Immediately After Observing How It Looked

  • Donald Trump criticised an "unflattering" portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado State Capitol and called for its removal by Governor Jared Polis
  • The artwork, created by Sarah Boardman and unveiled in 2019, has sparked complaints from Trump and some Colorado residents
  • The US president also used the opportunity to criticise Polis's handling of crime and other state issues

Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticised an artist for painting what he described as an “unflattering” portrait of him, currently displayed in the Colorado State Capitol.

Trump took to TruthSocial on March 23, 2025, to demand that Democrat Governor Jared Polis remove the artwork, which hangs alongside portraits of other U.S. presidents.

Trump described the painting as purposefully distorted and voiced dissatisfaction with Governor Jared Polis over its placement.
Trump requests his presidential portrait be taken down. Photo credit: Andrew Hanik/Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

According to DailyMail UK, the portrait, created by artist Sarah Boardman, was unveiled in 2019 during Trump’s presidency.

Trump claimed the painting was “purposefully distorted” and expressed dissatisfaction with its depiction, stating, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.”

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Artist’s work and public reaction

Sarah Boardman, who has previously painted portraits of former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, was commissioned to create Trump’s portrait during his first term in office.

While Boardman’s earlier works received praise, Trump alleged that her portrayal of him lacked the same quality.

He further claimed that “many people from Colorado” had complained about the artwork, adding that he was speaking on their behalf to Governor Polis.

The artist, however, had shared her gratitude for the opportunity when the portrait was unveiled, urging viewers to focus on the art rather than politics.

Portrait of Donald Trump in Colorado
Portrait of Donald Trump in Colorado. Photo credit: Colorado Capitol website
Source: UGC

Governor Polis and Trump’s broader criticism

Governor Jared Polis, who has served as Colorado’s governor since 2019, was also targeted in Trump’s remarks.

Trump accused Polis of being “weak on crime,” referencing issues such as the infiltration of Aurora by the Tren de Aragua criminal group.

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Trump highlighted his administration’s efforts to combat organised crime, including the recent deportation of over 200 suspected gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Polis, known for his bipartisan approach, has previously supported some of Trump’s initiatives but recently criticised federal immigration enforcement actions in Colorado.

About Colorado governor Jared Polis

Jared Polis is the 43rd Governor of Colorado, serving since January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he is known for his entrepreneurial background and his focus on education, renewable energy, and healthcare affordability.

Polis made history as the first openly gay man elected governor in the United States and has been a strong advocate for inclusivity and progressive policies throughout his career.

Trump revokes security clearance of Joe Biden

Legit.ng earlier reported that former President Donald Trump issued a presidential memo on March 21, 2025, revoking security clearances for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and several other prominent Democrats and political adversaries.

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President Trump revokes security clearance of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and others, gives reason

The revocations also extended to former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, among others.

According to Guardian UK, Trump stated that the decision was made in the "national interest" and directed executive departments to revoke unescorted access to secure government facilities for the individuals named.

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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.

Kola Muhammed avatar

Kola Muhammed (Copyeditor) Kola Muhammed is an experienced content strategist who has overseen content and public relations strategies for some of the biggest (media) brands in Sub-Saharan Africa.