Former President Donald Trump is making his dissatisfaction clear regarding his portrait at the Colorado State Capitol.
He is now calling on Democratic Governor Jared Polis, whom he labels part of the “radical left,” to take down the artwork, which is displayed alongside portraits of other U.S. presidents.
Expressing his frustration on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “Nobody likes an unflattering picture or painting of themselves.”
A “Deliberate Distortion”
Trump has long emphasized the importance of being represented in a favorable light—he has even described himself as a “wonderful-looking man.” However, he is particularly unhappy with a portrait of him by artist Sarah Boardman that hangs in the Colorado State Capitol. He is urging Governor Polis to remove it, arguing that the painting was “purposefully distorted” to an extreme degree.
Trump also aimed Boardman, pointing out that she had previously painted former President Barack Obama and had done a good job.
“He looks great, but my portrait is absolutely the worst,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He further quipped, “She must have lost her talent as she got older. Honestly, I’d rather have no picture at all than this one.”
Hanging Since 2019
Trump claimed that numerous Colorado residents had reached out to him to voice their discontent over the portrait, stating, “They are actually angry about it!” He said he was speaking on their behalf while calling on Governor Polis—whom he criticized for being “weak on crime”—to take the painting down.
What’s unusual, however, is that the portrait has been displayed in the Capitol since 2019, during Trump’s first term in office, yet he is only raising concerns about it now.
Sarah Boardman, a British-born artist based in Colorado Springs, has also painted portraits of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. When unveiling Trump’s portrait in 2019, she described it as “thoughtful, neutral, and non-confrontational.” She urged people to view it as a piece of portraiture rather than a political statement.
In response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for Governor Polis stated to Politico, saying the governor was “surprised to learn that the former president has such a keen interest in our State Capitol and its artwork.” The statement went on to highlight the historic significance of the Capitol building, which was completed in 1901 and features portraits of past presidents and governors.
“We appreciate the former president’s enthusiasm for our Capitol and always welcome opportunities to enhance the visitor experience,” the spokesperson added.
