Trump relocates Obama and Bush portraits to a secluded stairway
In a break from tradition, President Donald Trump directed staff to move the portraits of recent presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush from prominent public display areas in the White House to a less visible location at the top of the Grand Staircase[1][2][3][4].
This move has been met with criticism, with many interpreting it as symbolic of Trump's strained relations with his predecessors, especially Barack Obama. Critics described the move as "petty" and "insecure," interpreting it as part of the continuing feud between Trump and Obama, who Trump had repeatedly and baselessly accused on other fronts, including allegations of "treason" and spreading misinformation[3][4].
The main reasons behind this relocation appear to be related to Trump's ongoing personal and political tensions with his predecessors. Previously, Obama’s portrait had been moved earlier in 2025 within the White House to make room for Trump’s own presidential portrait, which also contributed to the shifting of the other portraits in a break from tradition[2].
The Obama portrait is now out of view from thousands of visitors who tour the White House each day, and the area where it is now located is heavily restricted to members of the first family, US Secret Service agents, and a limited number of White House and executive residence staff[1][2][3][4]. The portraits of both Bushes are also in the staircase area.
It's not the first time the Obama painting has been repositioned. In the modern era, presidents and first ladies have invited their predecessors, former staff, and friends and family for unveiling ceremonies of the presidential portraits. However, the Obama portrait's repositioning is not the first time it has been moved.
The tradition of the presidential portrait in the White House began in the early 1960s under first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, according to former White House curator Betty Monkman[1]. In recent months, tensions between President Trump and former President Obama have escalated.
Meanwhile, there have been long-standing tensions between Trump and the Bush family. George H.W. Bush called Trump a "blowhard" in a biography and voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election[1]. Despite this, both George W. Bush and Laura Bush attended Trump's 2017 inauguration but did not attend the post-ceremony luncheon[1].
As of now, the portrait of former President Joe Biden has not yet been completed. The FBI director, Pamela Bondi, ordered prosecutors to begin a grand jury probe into allegations that top Obama administration officials manufactured intelligence about Russia's interference in the 2016 election[1].
References: [1] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/18/politics/obama-portrait-trump-white-house/index.html [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/us/politics/obama-portrait-trump-white-house.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/18/trump-white-house-obama-portrait-move/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/18/donald-trump-moves-barack-obama-portrait-white-house-stairwell-less-visible-location
The relocation of President Barack Obama's portrait, among others, from prominent display areas in the White House to a less visible location at the top of the Grand Staircase can be associated with politics, as it is perceived as symbolic of tensions between President Donald Trump and his predecessors, particularly Obama. This event is already part of the ongoing policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts narratives, given the larger context of Trump's alleged feuds with his predecessors. Moreover, the general news coverage of this incident highlights the critical responses and interpretations of Trump's actions, further connecting it to the realm of politics.
