Trump Portrait Replaces Obama’s in White House After Assassination Attempt Depiction

Watan-White House officials on Friday hung a new painting of President Donald Trump, depicting a scene following the assassination attempt on him last summer. The painting replaced the official portrait of one of his predecessors, President Barack Obama.

Installing a new presidential portrait without prior notice is considered highly unusual, and placing Trump in that prominent location is seen as yet another break with tradition.

Traditionally, the portraits of the two most recent former presidents are displayed in the White House foyer. As a former president, Trump previously held a unique place in that space.

Plans are underway to move Bush’s portrait closer to that of his father, former President George H. W. Bush, which hangs along the stairway leading to the residence.

The White House announced the unexpected change in a post on its official X account, accompanied by a video of people walking past the new Trump painting placed next to the main staircase—where Obama’s portrait had previously been displayed. The caption read: “Some new artwork at the White House.”

The painting portrays the aftermath of the July assassination attempt during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was grazed in the ear, stood up, raised his fist, and shouted “Fight, fight, fight!”—a phrase that has since become a rallying cry for his successful campaign that returned him to the White House.

Several White House officials later shared images of Trump’s new painting, alongside a nearby shot of Obama’s portrait.

White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X: “Obama’s portrait was only moved a few feet.”

An Unusual Move

The decision is highly unconventional for a sitting president, as most presidents wait until after leaving office to have their portraits displayed in the historic White House, which is over 200 years old.

President Biden left office nearly three months ago, and it will likely be a few years before his and former First Lady Jill Biden’s portraits are commissioned and hung.

Regardless of political affiliation, it is customary for the sitting president to warmly host their predecessor for the portrait unveiling. Trump, however, did not hold such a ceremony for Obama.

It fell to President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to welcome Barack and Michelle Obama for their portrait unveiling in 2022—just as Democrat Bill Clinton did for Republican George W. Bush, and Bush returned the gesture for Clinton.

Obama also hosted President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush for their unveiling in 2012. That tradition saw an unexplained break when Trump failed to invite Obama during his first term.

Just last month, a painting of Trump hanging in Colorado’s State Capitol among portraits of other presidents was removed after Trump himself complained the image had been “deliberately distorted.”

The White House portrait collection begins with George Washington, the first U.S. president, whose painting was purchased by Congress. Many other early presidential and first lady portraits were gifted to the White House.

Since the 1960s, the White House Historical Association has funded most of the official portraits. The organization, a private nonprofit founded by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, began with paintings of Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, and John and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Portraits of presidents and first ladies are viewed by millions of White House visitors. Though not all are displayed at once—some are in storage or under restoration—they are placed throughout the public areas, including the ground floor with its gilded and china rooms, and the state floor with the famous Green, Blue, and Red Rooms, as well as the East Room and State Dining Room.

Obama’s Criticism

Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris both made recent statements criticizing the state of the country under Trump’s second term and questioned his recent actions.

According to CNN, Obama strongly criticized Trump’s attempts to reshape the federal government, suppress immigration and dissent, and intimidate the media and judiciary.

Speaking at Hamilton College, Obama said: “This is the first time I’ve spoken publicly in a while—I’ve been watching things unfold.” He added, “Imagine if I had done any of this. It’s inconceivable that the same people who are now silent would’ve tolerated such behavior from me or many of my predecessors.”

Obama also expressed skepticism over Trump’s newly proposed tariffs, saying they wouldn’t benefit the U.S. economy. More importantly, he voiced concern over what he called “violations of rights” coming from the White House.

Speaking to a group of students, he said: “I’m deeply worried about a federal government threatening universities if they don’t abandon students exercising their right to free speech.”

He continued: “The idea that the White House can tell law firms, ‘If you represent people we dislike, we’ll pull all our business or block you from serving clients effectively’—this kind of behavior runs against the very charter we uphold as Americans.”

Previously, Obama had warned of the risks of a second Trump term while campaigning for Kamala Harris during the final stretch of the 2024 election. At the time, he said: “Just because Trump acts foolishly doesn’t mean his presidency won’t be dangerous.”

Harris’s Remarks

In separate comments, Kamala Harris said Trump’s actions since returning to office were “largely expected.” In a video of her speech at the “Defining Women Leaders” summit, she said: “We knew a lot was going to happen,” before laughing and adding, “I’m not here to say I told you so.”

She noted that Trump’s return to the Oval Office had triggered “a deep sense of fear.” She added: “We’re seeing organizations staying silent. We’re seeing people caving to blatantly unconstitutional threats. These are the things we’ve been witnessing in our country over the past few months, and understandably, they’ve sparked real fear.”

Her remarks, first aired by MSNBC, were among her most direct statements since Trump began his second term.

Harris, who lost to Trump in the November election, added: “Fear is contagious. And so is courage.”

She concluded: “Fear spreads. When someone feels afraid, that fear radiates and multiplies. And without a doubt, we’re witnessing that. But let me say this too, my friends—courage is contagious as well.”