A new painting of President Donald Trump has been hung in the White House, replacing the official portrait of former President Barack Obama. The portrait depicts a moment after an assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer.
This change is particularly notable as it breaks with White House tradition, where portraits of the two most recent former presidents are usually displayed in the foyer.
The new painting captures Trump’s moment of defiance after being injured during the attack, with him raising his fist and shouting, “fight, fight, fight!” This phrase became a key rallying cry in Trump’s successful reelection campaign.
The artwork was created by artist Marc Lipp and donated to the White House by Andrew Pollock, a school safety advocate whose daughter was tragically killed in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Obama’s portrait, which had previously been placed in the foyer of the State Floor after its unveiling in 2022, has been moved to the opposite wall. The White House confirmed that this shift in placement was made to make room for the new portrait of Trump. Plans are now underway to move George W. Bush’s portrait to a location closer to that of his father, former President George H.W. Bush.
The White House’s announcement of the new artwork was made on the social media platform X, accompanied by a photo of the painting and a playful pair of emoji eyes. The artwork has sparked conversation, as it features a pivotal and dramatic moment in Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s decision to replace Obama’s portrait without any prior notice is certainly unconventional. Traditionally, portraits of former presidents are unveiled with a certain level of ceremony, and sitting presidents have often hosted their predecessors during the unveiling.
However, Trump did not extend such an invitation to Obama during his first term. It was President Joe Biden who invited the Obamas to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits in 2022.
As for the portraits of Biden and his wife, Jill, their official paintings are still years away from being commissioned, leaving the question of where they will be displayed for another time.
Beyond the White House, Trump has also made waves regarding his likeness in public spaces. A painting of him at the Colorado state Capitol was recently taken down after he complained that his image had been “purposefully distorted.”
The tradition of presidential portraits dates back to George Washington, whose portrait was the first to be purchased by Congress. Since the 1960s, the White House Historical Association has funded the majority of these portraits, allowing the public to view the images of past presidents and first ladies as part of the White House’s historical collection.
Some portraits are in storage or undergoing conservation, but many are displayed in public rooms and hallways throughout the mansion.
