President Donald Trump is making his discontent known regarding his portrait displayed at the Colorado State Capitol.
The former president is demanding that Democratic Governor Jared Polis—whom he criticizes as part of the “radical left”—remove the artwork, which hangs alongside portraits of other U.S. presidents.
Trump made his feelings clear on TruthSocial, saying, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.” He went on to label the portrait as “deliberately distorted,” emphasizing his belief in the importance of an accurate representation of his image.
Trump, known for his confidence in his appearance, has often referred to himself as a “wonderful-looking man,” underscoring his dissatisfaction with the artwork.
However, he is particularly unhappy with one specific portrayal, especially a painting by Sarah Boardman that is located in the Colorado State Capitol. The president is urging Governor Polis to remove the artwork, which is displayed alongside other presidential portraits.
He further commented that the painting was “deliberately distorted to a degree that even I, perhaps, have never encountered before.”
Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing the artist, Sarah Boardman, for her portrayal of him. He pointed out that Boardman had painted a striking portrait of former President Obama during his time in office, calling it “fantastic.”
However, Trump wasn’t as kind about his own depiction. “He looks fantastic, but the one of me is honestly the worst,” he shared on TruthSocial. He went on to suggest, “It seems she may have lost her touch with age. Regardless, I would rather not have a portrait at all than have this one.”
The controversial painting has been hanging in the Colorado State Capitol since 2019. Trump also mentioned that “numerous individuals from Colorado have reached out to express their dissatisfaction” with the unflattering artwork.
“They’re genuinely upset about it! I’m voicing their concerns to the Radical Left Governor, Jared Polis, who is notably ineffective on crime, especially when it comes to Tren de Aragua, which has nearly taken over Aurora. (But don’t worry, we saved it!) He should be embarrassed,” Trump declared, as he once again addressed the issue of his portrait.
It’s an unexpected move for Trump to bring up the portrait now, considering it has been hanging in the Colorado State Capitol since 2019, during his first term in office.
The artist behind the portrait, Sarah Boardman, a British-born artist based in Colorado Springs, is no stranger to presidential artwork. She previously painted former President George W. Bush in 2012 and later took on the task of painting Barack Obama’s portrait after the passing of Lawrence Williams, the artist who had painted the portraits of all 43 previous presidents.
When the portrait was first revealed in August 2019, Boardman shared images of the painting on her professional Facebook page, calling it a “great day” to celebrate the completion of the piece.
Boardman defended her work, explaining, “My portrayal of President Trump has been described as thoughtful, non-confrontational, and neither angry nor happy, without any tweets involved.” She emphasized that, in time, whether it’s five, ten, or even twenty years from now, Trump will be remembered simply as another historical figure on the wall, and the portrait should reflect that neutrality.
She also urged, “Let’s keep this respectful; it’s about the art of portraiture, not political views.”
In a response, a spokesperson for Governor Polis expressed surprise at Trump’s focus on the artwork in the Colorado State Capitol, as mentioned in a comment to Politico.
“The State Capitol, completed in 1901, showcases Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble sourced from Colorado, along with portraits of past Presidents and governors,” the spokesperson noted. “We value the President’s interest in our Capitol and are always eager to enhance the experience for our visitors.”