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‘Take it down’: Trump tells Colorado governor to remove ‘purposefully distorted’ portrait of him

March 24, 2025 | | Print Article

President Donald Trump wasn’t alone in slamming a “purposefully distorted” representation of himself in one state’s capitol building as he called on the “Radical Left Governor…to take it down.”

Splitting time between celebrating the Division I NCAA Wrestling Championship and criticizing the records of activist jurists like District Judge James Boasberg, the commander-in-chief also made time for a special shoutout to the Colorado State Capitol. There, his ire had been drawn to what he considered “truly the worst” presidential portrait.

“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” began Trump of the image that had first been unveiled in August 2019.

“The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,” continued the president of the works of artist Sarah Boardman that hung beside one another. “She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it!”

“I am speaking on their behalf to the Radical Left Governor, Jared Polis, who is extremely weak on Crime, in particular with respect to Tren de Aragua, which practically took over Aurora (Don’t worry, we saved it!), to take it down. Jared should be ashamed of himself!” concluded Trump on the matter.

Left out of the president’s commentary decrying the soft-on-crime leadership in the Centennial State was that, while Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has been in office since 2019 when the portrait had been added to the capitol, its commission was part of a crowdfunding effort begun in 2018 by then-state Sen. Kevin Grantham (R) who said during the unveiling, “Whether this portrait brings a smile or scowl to your face, remember you have the right to do so because this is the United States of America.”

For his part, Trump went on to share two professional portraits of himself for reference on Truth Social, including an official image reminiscent of his iconic mugshot at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia.

Commenting on the GOP leader’s statement, a spokesperson for the governor told 9NEWS, “Gov. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork. The State Capitol was complete in 1901, and features Rose Onyx and White Yule Marble mined in Colorado, and includes portraits of former Presidents and former governors. We appreciate the President and everyone’s interest in our capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience.”

Meanwhile, as leftists enjoyed the representation and the displeasure that it brought Trump, others echoed his sentiment with suggestions that it looked as though he’d “had his wisdom teeth pulled,” comparing the likeness to that of Boss Hogg from “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

Kevin Haggerty
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