Trump Stirs Controversy By Replacing Obama’s Portrait With Self-Depiction Of Assassination Attempt In a striking move that underscores the ongoing rivalry between Donald Trump and Barack Obama, Trump has replaced Obama’s portrait in the White House with one of himself depicting a dramatic moment following an assassination attempt. The change was made public on Friday, as the Republican former president shifted the image of his Democratic predecessor, who was the first Black president, to a location on the opposite side of the grand entrance hall of the historic residence.
This act is noteworthy; typically, portraits of sitting presidents are hung only after they leave office. The White House shared the news on social media platform X, posting a video showing visitors passing by Trump’s new artwork, which is prominently displayed near the main stairway where Obama’s portrait once resided. The newly installed painting captures a tense scene from July 2024, when a gunman shot Trump in the ear during an event in Butler, Pennsylvania. The image shows a bloodied Trump raising his fist and shouting “fight.” While details about the artist remain unconfirmed, the artwork shares a striking resemblance to a photograph of the same event taken by the Associated Press.
White House officials took to social media to show off Trump’s new portrait alongside Obama’s relocated picture. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the decision on X, telling a critic to “Pipe down, moron” while clarifying that Obama’s image was merely moved a few feet away. Traditionally, portraits of former presidents are displayed in a specific order, but they are typically kept together. Obama’s portrait was unveiled in 2022 by then-President Joe Biden and features him in a black suit with a grey tie against a white backdrop.
This latest display reflects Trump’s long-standing and contentious relationship with Obama, which began at the outset of Trump’s political career with the unfounded “birther” conspiracy theory questioning Obama’s American heritage. Obama has mocked Trump on various occasions, including a notorious roast at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2011. The White House’s latest display not only highlights Trump’s rivalry with Obama but also mirrors his penchant for showcasing personal tributes within his residences. For instance, just outside the Oval Office, Trump has prominently displayed a gold-framed version of his mugshot, which relates to his legal challenges surrounding the 2020 election. Additionally, he has a bronze sculpture depicting his defiant reaction to the Butler assassination attempt at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
