President Trump is slamming a portrait of himself at the Colorado state capitol as a lousy likeness and “purposefully distorted” to make him look bad.
Mr. Trump, writing on Truth Social, said Democratic Gov. Jared Polis should take it down.
“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The Colorado GOP commissioned the portrait from artist Sarah Boardman, who also painted President Barack Obama, and unveiled it in 2019 as part of an art collection at the capitol, according to the Fox local affiliate, KDVR.
Mr. Trump is taking notice now.
“The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,” he wrote. “She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain.”
Mr. Trump posted a photograph of the portrait, as well as official photographs of himself from his first and second terms, as if to contrast them with the painting.
The painting depicts Mr. Trump with a neutral gaze, and his face seems a bit round around the cheeks.
A Polis spokeswoman, Shelby Wieman, provided a statement in response to Mr. Trump.
“Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork. The State Capitol was completed in 1901, and features Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of former Presidents and former governors,” Ms. Wieman said. “We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”
