Not Pleased with the White House Portraits? Trump Orders Removal of Obama’s Portrait

US media reports that White House staff have moved the portraits of three former presidents—Obama, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush—to the staircase area, leaving visitors without a chance to see them.

CNN quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that President Trump directed staff to move Obama’s White House portrait to the top of the grand staircase, an area accessible only to the First Family, Secret Service, and specific staff members.

According to CNN, this move means visitors will not be able to see Obama’s portrait.

The report pointed out that the portraits of both Bush (the younger and elder) were also relocated to the staircase area, while former President Biden’s official portrait has not yet been completed.

This is not the first time Obama’s portrait has been rehung in a new location. In April this year, Obama’s portrait was moved to the other side of the White House hall, with its previous spot replaced by a prominent painting depicting Trump’s iconic moment dodging an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

CNN reports that tensions between Trump and Obama have increased markedly in recent months. Trump recently accused Obama and members of his administration of committing treason during the 2016 presidential election, prompting Obama to issue a rare statement calling these accusations “outrageous,” “absurd,” and “a diversion tactic with little effect.”

The report also noted that tensions between Trump and the Bush family are longstanding. The late George H.W. Bush, who passed in 2018, referred to Trump as a “braggart” in his biography and, though a Republican, voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. As for George W. Bush, he too was attacked by Trump as a “failed and unremarkable” president.

During his first presidential term, Trump had previously removed the Clinton and George W. Bush portraits from the hall, replacing them with those of late-19th-century President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. (Source: Central News Agency)