Former President Donald Trump has publicly demanded the removal of a portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado State Capitol, calling it “purposefully distorted” and “truly the worst.” The portrait, which has hung in the Capitol since 2019, features Trump in a suit with a red tie and was painted by artist Sarah A. Boardman.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his displeasure, saying, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves. The one in Colorado, put up by Governor Jared Polis, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.” He went on to compliment Boardman’s work on the portrait of former President Barack Obama, stating it was wonderful, but lamented that Boardman “must have lost her talent as she got older.”

The former president claimed to have received numerous complaints from Colorado residents who shared their anger over the painting. He used the opportunity to criticize Polis, referring to him as “extremely weak on crime” and calling out his handling of the Tren de Aragua, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that has recently made headlines for its activities in Aurora, a city near Denver.

Trump’s call for the portrait’s removal has stirred discussions about political representation in state buildings. Interestingly, when the portrait was revealed in 2019, it was met with no dissent from politicians present at the event. The unveiling included supportive remarks from both Republican and Democratic officials, who all agreed that visual representations of presidents should remain in the Capitol, regardless of their political actions.

The portrait itself is an oil painting, measuring 20 by 24 inches, and was created to commemorate Trump’s first term as president, marking him as the 45th U.S. president. Boardman is a notable artist whose work has included official portraits of multiple former presidents.

In a statement following Trump’s demand, Colorado’s press secretary Shelby Wieman acknowledged the president's interest in the State Capitol’s artwork, expressing surprise that a former sitting U.S. president was taking such a keen interest. “The State Capitol is a historic building completed in 1901 and is home to various portraits of former leaders. We appreciate all feedback regarding our artwork and visitor experience,” Wieman stated.

It's worth noting that prior to Trump’s portrait, there was a brief incident in 2018 when a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin was displayed in the Capitol as part of a prank, which underscored the contentious relationship some perceive between Trump and Russia.

As Trump’s claims spark renewed debates about art in government buildings and its implications for political figures, the question remains: Will the portrait stay or go? Stay tuned for updates on this intriguing political art controversy!