Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the official White House portraits of Barack Obama, George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush to be moved out of public view, in a move critics have described as “petty” and “insecure.”
According to CNN, the portraits — which are traditionally displayed prominently for visitors — have been relocated to a far less visible location inside the presidential residence. Barack Obama’s portrait, painted by Robert McCurdy and unveiled in September 2022, was originally positioned in the White House entryway, where thousands of tourists would see it each year. It is now said to hang at the top of the Grand Staircase, an area closed to the public and accessible only to the First Family, Secret Service and select staff.
The Bush portraits have reportedly been moved to the same restricted location. George W. Bush’s painting, completed by John Howard Sanden and unveiled in 2012, and George H. W. Bush’s portrait, painted by Herbert E. Abrams in 1995, are no longer displayed in public-facing areas.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism online. One X user labelled Trump “a petty and insecure man,” while another wrote: “Just when you think he couldn’t disrespect more, he goes and tops himself again.” Others predicted the changes would be short-lived, with one comment reading: “The next president will remove every photo of you inside the White House.”