Washington: American president Donald Trump replaced a portrait of Barack Obama in the White House with a painting of himself showing a few moments after surviving an assassination attempt.
On Friday, the 78 -year -old Republican moved the democrat’s photo – the only black president – on the other side of the large entrance corridor of the famous residence.
This decision is very unusual for an exercise president, because most must wait to leave the office before having their portrait in the 200 -year historic building displayed.
“New works in the White House,” said the White House on X, alongside a video of people passing in front of Trump’s new photo in space by the main stairwell where Obama had already hung.
The new painting captures the dramatic moment when an Ensangoué Trump raised his fist and shouted “fight” after being shot down by a butler shooter, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.
An official of the White House said they did not immediately have information on the artist behind the table. It closely resembles a photograph of the same moment taken by the Associated Press news agency (AP).
Later, several White House officials published images of Trump’s painting, also showing the portrait of Obama nearby.
“The portrait of Obama has just been distant a few meters away,” said the director of communications for the White House, Steven Cheung, on X – while saying to a critic of the move to “Pipe Down, Moron”.
It is common for American presidents to move portraits of their predecessors, often keeping those of the most recent office holders in the main entrance hall.
The portrait of Obama was unveiled in 2022 by the president of the time, Joe Biden. It represents the 44th president in a black suit and a gray tie on an ordinary white background.
However, the White House fanfare surrounding the switch reflects the longtime and bitter rivalry of Trump with Obama, which served from 2009 to 2017.
Trump launched his political career by pushing the theory of racist conspiracy and false “Birther”, who falsely said that Obama was not an American of natural origin.
In return, Obama made fun of Trump several times – the most famous during a roast at the dinner of the Association of White House correspondents in 2011.
This decision also emphasizes how the former reality TV star has never avoided managing in its various residences.
He recently suspended, just outside the oval, a golden mount version of his mugshot from a case concerning alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 elections.
In his residence Mar-A-Lago in Florida, he has a large sculpture in bronze capturing his provocative reaction to the attempted assassination of the butler.
