Trump insists his portrait be removed
The artwork in the Colorado State Capitol has drawn sharp criticism from the US president, who referred to it as “truly the worst.” President Donald Trump has called for the swift removal of his portrait from the Capitol, amidst escalating...
TroibNews 
The artwork in the Colorado State Capitol has drawn sharp criticism from the US president, who referred to it as “truly the worst.”
President Donald Trump has called for the swift removal of his portrait from the Capitol, amidst escalating tensions between his administration and the leadership of the Democratic-majority state.
In a post on Truth Social this Monday, Trump expressed his discontent with the painting, stating that Colorado Governor Jared Polis should “be ashamed of himself” for displaying a portrait that he described as “purposefully distorted to a level that” he has “never seen before.”
He added, “I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one,” and claimed that many residents of Colorado have voiced their complaints about the artwork.
The portrait, created by British-born and Colorado-based artist Sarah A. Boardman, has been exhibited in the Capitol since 2019, during Trump's first term. Notably, Boardman also painted President Barack Obama's portrait for the Colorado State Capitol, which Trump characterized as “wonderful.” Both portraits are based on photographs, not live sittings.
In his message, Trump also criticized “Radical Left” Governor Polis, labeling him as “extremely weak” on crime and referencing his handling of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that has expanded operations in the US. According to Trump, the gang “practically took over” Aurora, Colorado's third-largest city, last year.
The US government designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization in February. Recently, Trump utilized the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 300 suspected gang members to El Salvador, where they are held in high-security detention facilities.
The governor's office responded, expressing surprise that the US president was “an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork.” Their statement, referenced by various media outlets, indicated that the state government is “always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience,” but did not confirm whether the portrait would be removed.
Colorado has consistently supported Democratic candidates in the last five presidential elections, including voting for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Trump has encountered state-level pushback in Colorado regarding his policies on education, healthcare, immigration, and gun safety, with Attorney General Phil Weiser filing a series of lawsuits against them.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
President Donald Trump has called for the swift removal of his portrait from the Capitol, amidst escalating tensions between his administration and the leadership of the Democratic-majority state.
In a post on Truth Social this Monday, Trump expressed his discontent with the painting, stating that Colorado Governor Jared Polis should “be ashamed of himself” for displaying a portrait that he described as “purposefully distorted to a level that” he has “never seen before.”
He added, “I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one,” and claimed that many residents of Colorado have voiced their complaints about the artwork.
The portrait, created by British-born and Colorado-based artist Sarah A. Boardman, has been exhibited in the Capitol since 2019, during Trump's first term. Notably, Boardman also painted President Barack Obama's portrait for the Colorado State Capitol, which Trump characterized as “wonderful.” Both portraits are based on photographs, not live sittings.
In his message, Trump also criticized “Radical Left” Governor Polis, labeling him as “extremely weak” on crime and referencing his handling of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang that has expanded operations in the US. According to Trump, the gang “practically took over” Aurora, Colorado's third-largest city, last year.
The US government designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization in February. Recently, Trump utilized the Alien Enemies Act to deport nearly 300 suspected gang members to El Salvador, where they are held in high-security detention facilities.
The governor's office responded, expressing surprise that the US president was “an aficionado of our Colorado state capitol and its artwork.” Their statement, referenced by various media outlets, indicated that the state government is “always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience,” but did not confirm whether the portrait would be removed.
Colorado has consistently supported Democratic candidates in the last five presidential elections, including voting for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Trump has encountered state-level pushback in Colorado regarding his policies on education, healthcare, immigration, and gun safety, with Attorney General Phil Weiser filing a series of lawsuits against them.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
