Unveiled: Trump Portrait Gifted by Putin to Russian Artist, Allegedly Presented to U.S. President
In March, the Kremlin gifted a covert painting to none other than Donald Trump. This enigma of a portrait, swimming under the radar till now, was delivered to the ex-prez by Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff. In an exclusive sit-down with Tucker Carlson, Witkoff called it a "stunning masterpiece" by a "Russian art titan."
Trump, he dished, was "plain tickled pink" by it. However, the portrait itself was strictly hush-hush. That is, up until now. Now, the artist behind this Kremlin-commissioned artwork has spilled the beans to CNN, dishing the lowdown on this intriguing portrait.
The painting that took the White House by storm showcases Trump brandishing his fist on stage after the aborted assassination at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally in 2024. The audacious artwork is the masterpiece of Nikas Safronov, one of Mother Russia's most lauded artists, the Kremlin confirmed.
Safronov shared his inspiration for this bold creation, "I wanted to depict the blood, the wound and his gutsiness after the hit. He didn't crumble or hit the panic button, but unashamedly flexed his arm to display his solidarity with the 'Murica."
With a track record of reimagining global heavyweights such as the late Pope Francis, India's President Narendra Modi, and the enigmatic Kim Jong Un, Safronov isn't a stranger to pushing the boundaries with political portraiture.
For his Trump portrait, however, he was "visited by some shady characters who suggested I paint Trump my way." Initially clueless about the identities of these visitors, he shrugged, "Hey, as a big-time artist, sometimes clients prefer to steer clear of the nitty-gritty."
However, he soon suspected these were the Kremlin's directive. "As I plunged into the artwork, I felt this piece could be an ice-breaker between our nations. That's why I decided to work on it pro bono."
Later, he claimed that Putin himself reached out, expressing admiration for the flattering Trump portrait and hailing it as a crucial stepping stone towards improving US-Russian relations.
The Kremlin, predictably, remained stone-faced over the juicy tidbit, blowing off CNN's request for comment.
Thist striking likeness of Trump flexing his right fist, with gore splattered all over, now graces the Grand Foyer of the White House, a prime spot previously occupied by an official portrait of former President Barack Obama.
This hard-hitting image of Trump became an emblem of resilience during his campaign, encapsulating strength and fortitude against adversity.
- The painting, a Kremlin-commissioned artwork by Russian art titan Nikas Safronov, showcases Donald Trump brandishing his fist on stage after the aborted assassination at his 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- Safronov shared that he was visited by some mysterious characters who suggested he paint Trump his way, and he later suspected these were the Kremlin's directive.
- Putin himself reportedly reached out, expressing admiration for the flattering Trump portrait and hailing it as a crucial stepping stone towards improving US-Russian relations.
- The Kremlin, despite the claim, remained tight-lipped over the matter, refusing to comment on the reported interaction between Safronov and Putin.
- The hard-hitting image of Trump flexing his right fist, now adorns the Grand Foyer of the White House, replacing the official portrait of former President Barack Obama, and has become an emblem of resilience during Trump's campaign, symbolizing strength and fortitude against adversity.
