Trump Receives Portrait from Putin Amid Controversy Over Colorado Painting

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has received a new portrait from Russian President Vladimir Putin, while simultaneously condemning a previously displayed painting of himself as ‘truly the worst.’

The Kremlin confirmed the personal gift through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated that only Putin could provide further details about the painting, which has not been publicly unveiled. Trump criticized the earlier portrait that hung in the Colorado State Capitol until its removal on Monday, underscoring his keen interest in managing his public image.

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed the new painting’s arrival from Moscow, describing it as a ‘beautiful portrait’ created by a ‘leading Russian artist.’ Witkoff noted that Trump was ‘clearly touched’ by the gift but withheld further commentary.

The exchange of art highlights a potential diplomatic thaw between the United States and Russia, coinciding with ongoing peace talks regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Witkoff reported that, during a recent meeting, Putin referred to Trump as someone he had prayed for following an assassination attempt against the president last year.

The assassination attempt, which occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania, became emblematic for Trump as he showcased a rallying photo of himself at the time, where he displayed a bloody ear and a defiant gesture. This iconic image has gained notoriety, even gracing the cover of a book he authored.

On Truth Social, Trump was quick to express his disdain for the now-removed Colorado painting, claiming it was ‘purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.’ He contrasted this with his views on former President Barack Obama’s representation by the same painter, Sarah Boardman, whom he praised, stating Obama looked ‘wonderful.’

During last year’s presidential campaign, Trump reportedly lost about 30 pounds, attributing it to a busy schedule that left him little time to eat. He also leveraged the controversy surrounding the Colorado painting to critique Colorado Governor Jared Polis, labeling him ‘radical’ and ‘extremely weak on crime,’ though media reports indicated that the portrait’s removal was unrelated to Polis and stemmed from a crowdfunding initiative intended to fill a space previously occupied by an image of Putin.

Following public backlash, a bipartisan committee ordered the painting’s removal, with it being stored securely until further notice, according to a Colorado House Democrats spokesman. The BBC has reached out to Boardman for comments on the situation.

In a 2019 interview, Boardman expressed an understanding that artistic reactions to presidents would often elicit strong emotions, acknowledging that ‘there would always be anger at a president from one side or the other,’ as it is ‘human nature.’

Robert Anderson, a portrait artist who created the official likeness of President George W. Bush, remarked on the complexity of presidential portraits, suggesting that each viewer fills in personal biases, contributing to their interpretations. ‘I think it would be very difficult to paint him’ referring to Trump, Anderson noted, as public perceptions of the president vary widely.

A spokesperson for Governor Polis expressed surprise at Trump’s critique regarding the Capitol’s artwork, stating, ‘We appreciate the president and everyone’s interest in our Capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.’