On Friday, April 11, the White House made headlines after replacing Barack Obama’s official portrait with a striking new painting of former President Donald Trump.
Obama, who served as the 44th U.S. president from 2009 to 2017, had his portrait unveiled in 2022 and placed in a prominent spot near the staircase on the State Floor, close to the presidential residence. That location has traditionally been reserved for the two most recent presidents.
However, Obama’s portrait has now been moved across the foyer to the wall where George W. Bush’s portrait previously hung, making room for a new, unconventional painting of Trump. With official portraits for both Trump and President Joe Biden still in the works, the only recent presidents currently on display are Obama and Bush.
The White House shared a short video of the update on its official X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption: “Some new artwork at the White House 👀.”
The newly installed painting is not a typical presidential portrait. It depicts Trump with a bandaged ear, thrusting his fist into the air while shouting “fight, fight, fight!”—a moment captured following the assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July. The image memorializes the dramatic aftermath of the shooting, in which Trump, 78, was injured but survived.
This new portrait installation also reflects Trump’s unique political position.
As the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, and currently running for a potential second term, he is both a former and possibly future president.
According to reports from the Associated Press, George W. Bush’s portrait will be moved to a location near that of his father, George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, on the staircase leading to the residence.
Some new artwork at the White House 👀 pic.twitter.com/l6u5u7k82T
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 11, 2025
The assassination attempt in Butler involved a 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired eight shots from an AR-15-style rifle from a nearby rooftop. Trump was struck in the upper ear and survived. A rally attendee was killed, and two others were critically wounded. Crooks was fatally shot by the Secret Service on the scene.
Just weeks later, another security breach occurred at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where a man armed with an AK-47-style weapon was arrested.
Reflecting on these incidents, Trump told attendees at the Capitol Rotunda in January, “I was saved by God to make America great again.
