In a break with tradition, the White House relocated former President Barack Obama’s official portrait to a different spot in the building’s grand foyer, replacing it with a painting of President Donald Trump raising his fist in the air moments after an assassination attempt last year.
The portrait seems inspired by a photo of then-candidate Trump, bloodied and flanked by Secret Service agents, remaining onstage after being grazed by a bullet at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
The image, along with his call to “fight, fight, fight,” became a symbol of his campaign to return to the White House.
The White House revealed the change in a short video posted on X Friday simply captioned: “Some new artwork at the White House.”
A spokesperson for Obama did not respond to a comment request on Friday night, NBC News reported.
The new Trump painting now takes the space typically reserved for the most recent official presidential portrait. Former President Joe Biden, who left office in January, has not yet had his official portrait created.
While tradition places portraits of the most recent presidents in this location — next to the East Room in the White House foyer — it is not a strict rule, a former White House official told NBC. The president can instruct the curator to rearrange the artwork.
Trump is known for not observing the usual traditions of showing respect for his predecessors.
The official also highlighted that during his first term, Trump moved the portraits of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Trump does not have an official portrait from his first term, which is usually revealed during the term of his successor. At the time, the Biden administration directed questions about the issue to the White House Historical Association, which has managed the acquisition of presidential and first lady portraits since 1965.
In the recent Trump redecoration, Obama’s portrait was not the only one that moved.
It was relocated to the spot previously occupied by George W. Bush’s portrait, while Bush’s portrait is now placed on the staircase, according to a White House official.
The replacement is part of a surprising series of portrait-related events. Last month, Trump ordered the removal of a painting of him in the Colorado statehouse, and it was promptly taken down.
Moreover, in January, a portrait of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley mysteriously vanished from its designated spot at the Pentagon.
Trump has lashed out at Milley, accusing him of being disloyal. This January, the Pentagon stripped Milley of his security detail and security clearance. In another sharp break with tradition, Trump has done the same with dozens of former officials he has feuded with.
