A new official portrait of former President Donald Trump has been unveiled at the Colorado State Capitol—and it’s drawing strong reactions, particularly from Trump’s own supporters.
The artwork, painted by Arizona-based artist Vanessa Horabuena, now hangs in the Capitol’s gallery of former presidents. It replaces a previous portrait by Colorado painter Sarah Boardman, which had been on display since 2019 but was removed following public complaints from Trump.
Social media users quickly chimed in after a post on X (formerly Twitter) by @BehizyTweets sparked discussion about the updated painting. “What do we think about the new Trump portrait at the Colorado State Capitol?” the post read. “I’m not sure if it’s an upgrade from the abomination they had before.”
Criticism poured in from Trump supporters who felt the new portrait was unflattering or even disrespectful. “It’s terrible. It looks like he’s old and worn out,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Looks like a hater painted it.”
Others speculated that the use of strong orange tones in the painting was intentional. “They really went big on the orange, and yes, they did it on purpose,” one user claimed. Another suggested that an artist more supportive of Trump should have been chosen for the commission.
Despite the backlash, Trump himself voiced approval of the piece. In a post on Truth Social, he thanked Horabuena and the people of Colorado, writing, “Thank you to the Highly Talented Artist, Vanessa Horabuena, and the incredible people of Colorado.”
The painting was donated by the White House approximately a month ago and installed following a vote by the Capitol Building Advisory Committee, led by former state legislator Lois Court. “There was a blank on the wall,” Court said. “It seemed inappropriate. We knew that the White House had sent us this replacement, and it simply made sense to put it up.”
Horabuena, who describes herself as a “Christian worship artist,” is known for patriotic and faith-based works, including depictions of Abraham Lincoln, Jesus Christ, and Mount Rushmore. She has painted Trump multiple times in the past.
The controversy over Trump’s portrait began in spring 2024, when the former president criticized Boardman’s original work, accusing her of intentionally distorting his image. Boardman denied the claim, defending the integrity of her work.
Following Trump’s public disapproval, state legislators acted swiftly to remove the painting, which was later placed in museum storage.
On the day of the new portrait’s unveiling, the Colorado statehouse was notably quiet, with few visitors present. Still, a handful of tourists stopped to view and photograph the latest addition to the presidential gallery.
