President Donald Trump has relocated former presidents' portraits from prominent White House display areas to less visible locations.
Trump personally ordered staff to move Barack Obama's presidential portrait to the top of the Grand Staircase leading to the White House residence, according to CNN. The area is restricted to Secret Service, the first family, and select White House staff members only.
The portraits of George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush have also been moved to the same obscure staircase, away from the thousands of White House visitors who tour the building daily. Previously, White House tradition placed recent former presidents' portraits in prominent areas visible to guests.
The decision marks a departure from long-standing White House customs regarding presidential portrait placement. Robert McCurdy's portrait of Obama, notable for its hyperrealistic style and plain white background, was originally displayed in more prominent areas.
The artist is known for painting subjects without props or gestures, allowing viewers to bring their own emotional and historical perspectives to the encounter. McCurdy's technique includes capturing every detail of Obama's appearance, including gray hair and suit wrinkles that reflect the aging process presidents experience during their time in office.
Obama himself joked at the 2022 unveiling that McCurdy "refused to hide any of my gray hairs." The portrait's placement change represents the second time Trump has relocated Obama's image since taking office.
Social media critics accused Trump of making a "petty move" against his predecessor. Camille MacKenzie, founder of the anti-Trump New Patriot Foundation, suggested the relocation fits Trump's pattern of White House redecorating choices.
Podcaster Ryan Shead called the action indicative of insecurity, noting the restricted area receives minimal public visibility. Democrat Majid M. Padellan characterized the portrait relocation as "petty trolling" comparable to a "jealous 12-year-old."
The criticism highlighted ongoing tensions between Trump and Obama that have persisted since the 2016 election. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently ordered DOJ prosecutors to begin a grand jury probe into allegations regarding Obama administration officials and the 2016 election.
Trump's involvement in White House aesthetic decisions extends beyond portrait placement. In April, the administration moved Obama's portrait from the left side of the Grand Foyer to the right side, replacing it with a painting of Trump shouting "fight, fight, fight" during his first assassination attempt.
The president reportedly oversees almost every detail regarding White House styling, regardless of size or significance. Trump previously inserted a self-portrait between images of First Lady Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton.
His relationship with the Bush family has been marked by tensions, with George H.W. Bush referring to Trump as a "blowhard" before his 2018 death and backing Clinton in 2016. Neither George W. Bush nor his wife Laura endorsed Trump during the 2020 or 2024 presidential races.
The portrait relocations underscore the contentious relationship between Trump and Obama that has intensified in recent months. Earlier this month, Trump accused Obama and his administration members of committing treason following the 2016 election results.
Obama's office responded by calling Trump's claims "bizarre" and "a weak attempt at distraction." The Bush family's absence from Trump's political coalition reflects broader Republican Party divisions that persist into his second term.
These portrait moves signal Trump's intention to reshape White House traditions according to his personal preferences and political relationships. The changes demonstrate how presidential administrations can alter symbolic elements of the White House to reflect their political priorities.
