President Donald Trump has moved the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to a location in the White House rarely seen by the public.
Sources say Trump personally instructed staff to relocate Obama’s portrait to the top of the Grand Staircase, an area usually accessed only by Secret Service, the first family, and select White House staff. The portraits of former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush were also moved to the same spot, away from the view of thousands of daily visitors.
Traditionally, portraits of recent presidents are displayed prominently for guests to see. Critics quickly condemned the change. Camille MacKenzie of the New Patriot Foundation wrote on X: “I don’t know if this is verified or not, but given Trump’s personality and the rest of the decorating he’s done in the [White House] then it sounds very likely. They’ve already pulled down multiple portraits and put up ridiculous artwork that resembles the AI-generated photos of himself that he loves so much.”
Democrats on social media called the move petty. Podcaster Ryan Shead wrote: “Imagine being this insecure. The area is rarely seen by the public. This is a petty move to appease low IQ Trump muppets while pushing this traitor narrative.”
Commentator Majid M. Padellan, known as BrooklynDad_Defiant, added: “So… he can’t lower prices. He can’t end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He WON’T release Epstein files. But he can do petty trolling like hiding Obama’s and Bush’s portraits, like a jealous 12-year-old? That’s what you voted for, MAGA? Worst. President. Ever.”
Rob Smith, a self-described proud Democrat, also remarked: “Trump is truly petty.”
Trump and Obama have had a tense relationship for years, dating back to the 2016 election. The Obama portrait, painted by Robert McCurdy, is known for its white background, realistic wrinkles in the suit, and gray hair — details meant to reflect the realities of a president’s time in office.
McCurdy once explained: “They have plain white backgrounds, nobody gestures, there are no props, because we’re not here to tell the story of the person that’s sitting for them. We’re here to create an encounter between the viewer and the sitter. The viewer will bring their emotional and historical package to that moment, and it will be different for every single one.”
At the 2022 unveiling, Obama joked: “What I love about Robert’s work is that he paints people exactly the way they are, for better or worse. He captures every wrinkle on your face, every crease in your shirt. You’ll note that he refused to hide any of my gray hairs.”
This is not the first time Trump has relocated Obama’s portrait. In April, it was moved from the left side of the Grand Foyer to the right side near the piano, replaced by a painting of Trump during his first assassination attempt, shouting “fight, fight, fight.”
Trump is known to take a personal interest in White House décor. He once placed a self-portrait next to portraits of former First Lady Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, his 2016 election rival. That artwork shows Trump’s face overlaid with the stars and stripes of the American flag.
The changes come amid renewed tensions between the two presidents. Earlier this month, Trump accused Obama and members of his administration of treason over actions following the 2016 election. Obama’s office dismissed the claims as “bizarre” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”
Trump’s relationship with the Bush family has also been strained. Before his death in 2018, George H.W. Bush called Trump a “blowhard” and supported Hillary Clinton in 2016. George W. Bush and his wife Laura did not endorse Trump in the 2020 or 2024 elections.
