Trump replaces Obama portrait with painting of himself

“Some new artwork at the White House,” the White House said on X, along with a video of people walking past Trump’s new picture in the spot by the main stairwell where Obama’s formerly hung.

The new painting shows the iconic moment when a bloodied Trump pumped his fist and shouted “fight” after a gunman shot him in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania in July 2024.

A White House official said they didn’t immediately have information about the artist who painted it. It closely resembles a photograph of the same moment taken by the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

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Several White House officials later posted pictures of Trump’s new picture, while showing Obama’s portrait nearby.

“The Obama portrait was just moved a few feet away,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X — while telling a critic of the move to “Pipe down, moron.”

Traditionally US presidents often shift portraits of their predecessors, while keeping pictures of the most recent officeholders in the main entrance hall.

Obama’s was unveiled in 2022 by then-president Joe Biden and shows the 44th president in a black suit and grey tie against a white background.

But the White House’s fanfare around the switch-up reflects Trump’s long and bitter rivalry with Obama, who was president from 2009 to 2017.

Trump replaces Obama portrait with painting of himself