Trump Relocates Barack Obama's Portrait; Gavin Newsom Condenses Reason in Six Compact Words
In an unconventional move that has sparked controversy, President Donald Trump has directed staff to relocate former President Barack Obama's official White House portrait from a prominent public area to the top of the Grand Staircase, a location rarely seen by visitors. This decision marks a departure from longstanding tradition of showcasing recent presidents' portraits in prime public view.
The relocation of Obama's portrait is widely interpreted as part of Trump's ongoing personal and political feud with the former president. Critics have described the move as "petty" and "insecure," while supporters have defended it. The portraits of former presidents George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, have also been moved to the same location.
In April, Obama's portrait was removed from the Grand Foyer and replaced by a painting of President Trump pumping his fist in the air after last year's attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. The portrait of former President George W. Bush was moved to the same location as Obama's.
The placement of Obama's portrait in a less visible location is being seen as a petty move by some, as it is not in line with typical White House protocol. Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has criticised Trump's actions, stating that "small men hide from history's giants."
It is worth noting that Trump's actions towards former presidents have caused high tensions between him and several former presidents. Trump has labelled former president George W. Bush as a "failed president," and the late George H.W. Bush called Trump a "blowhard," and said he voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.
Interestingly, George W. Bush did not attend Trump's first inauguration, and Trump skipped Bush's presidential library dedication in 2013. As of now, Trump has not yet directed staff to move the portrait of his most recent predecessor, Joe Biden.
The photorealistic painting of Barack Obama was created by artist Robert McCurdy. Obama's portrait was then moved to the East Room, until it got demoted to its current location, a landing leading into a private residence that is heavily restricted. The portrait of Trump's most recent predecessor, Joe Biden, has not yet been completed.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/trump-obama-portrait-grand-foyer.html [2] https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/07/trump-moves-obama-portrait-to-grand-staircase-323853 [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/07/trump-moves-obama-portrait-grand-staircase-breaking-with-tradition/
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