A new official portrait of former U.S. President Donald Trump now hangs in the Colorado Capitol, after the previous one enraged him so much that he called it ‘The worst I’ve ever seen.’ Trump’s public complaints about the painting led to its removal and replacement with a new one approved by the White House.
The new artwork was created by Arizona-based artist Vanessa Horabueno, known for her religiously inspired works. This latest portrait presents a more formal and clean depiction of Trump, contrasting sharply with the previous controversial version.
In the spring of 2025, Trump publicly criticized on social media the earlier portrait painted by British artist Sarah Bordman. He claimed that ‘the artist must have lost her talent as she aged’ and accused her of deliberately distorting his likeness. The backlash was immediate — local lawmakers announced the removal of the painting the very next day, placing it into museum storage.
What particularly seemed to anger Trump was the fact that the same artist had also painted Barack Obama’s portrait, which he said looked ‘absolutely amazing.’
Bordman denied the allegations but soon found her business under threat. She told Sky News that Trump’s comments placed her intentions, integrity, and abilities under scrutiny. Two weeks later, she responded publicly, stating that the accusations were seriously harming her 41-year-old career and might prevent her business from recovering.
The controversy highlights the intense scrutiny public figures and artists face when political and artistic expression collide.