Trump demands his portrait be taken down

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The artwork displayed at the State Capitol in Colorado is “truly the worst,” according to the US president

US President Donald Trump has demanded the immediate removal of his portrait from the Capitol building in the state of Colorado, describing the painting as “truly the worst.” The criticism comes amid broader tensions between the White House and the leadership of the Democratic-leaning state.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said that Colorado Governor Jared Polis should “be ashamed of himself” for putting up a portrait that was “purposefully distorted to a level that” he has “never seen before.”

“I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one,” Trump wrote, claiming that many residents in the state have complained about the artwork.

Painted by the British-born and Colorado-based portrait artist Sarah A. Boardman, the work has been on display in the Capitol since 2019, during Trump’s first presidential term. Boardman also painted the portrait of US President Barack Obama for the Colorado State Capitol, which Trump described as “wonderful.” The portraits are based on photographs rather than live sittings.

In his post, Trump also criticized “Radical Left” Governor Polis for being “extremely weak” on crime, citing his handling of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that has expanded into the US. According to the president, the gang “practically took over” Colorado’s third-largest city, Aurora, last year.

In February, the US government designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization. Earlier this month, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 300 alleged gang members to El Salvador, where they were placed in high-security detention facilities.

The governor’s office responded by saying that Polis “was surprised” to learn that the US president was “an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork.” The statement, cited by multiple media outlets, went on to say that the state government was “always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.” It did not specify however whether the portrait was going to be removed.

Colorado has voted for Democratic candidates in five consecutive presidential elections, including for Kamala Harris in 2024.

Trump’s policies on issues ranging from education and healthcare to immigration and gun safety have faced state-level opposition in Colorado, with Attorney General Phil Weiser having filed a series of lawsuits against them.

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