Trump Hung Side-by-Side Photos of Putin and His Granddaughter in the White House. After Backlash, He Swapped Out the Grandkid Pic

President Donald Trump has overhauled the portrait display in the White House Palm Room, opting to keep a controversial image of himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin while removing a photograph of his youngest granddaughter.

The administrative decision, revealed through recent images of the renovated space, shows that a photo of 6-year-old Carolina Dorothy Trump has been replaced. In its stead, the President hung a black-and-white snapshot of himself leaning over the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

The portrait of Trump and Putin has remained a flashpoint for international criticism since its installation earlier this year. Taken during an August 2025 summit at a U.S. military base in Anchorage, Alaska, the image captures the two leaders during unsuccessful negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s continued isolation from much of the West and ongoing war crime allegations against Putin, the photograph remains prominently displayed. European officials have expressed sharp disapproval of the optics.

“If it is true that the U.S. president considers it appropriate to hang on the White House wall a photo of the greatest war criminal of the 21st century, then a just and sustainable peace will have to wait,” stated Marko Mihkelson, chairman of Estonia’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Palm Room, a transitional space connecting the White House residence to the Rose Garden, has undergone a total aesthetic transformation. Once characterized by soft lighting and indoor greenery, the room now mirrors the design language of Trump’s Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago. The renovation features:

• Stark white marble flooring
• Minimalist white walls
• A high-intensity, flashy chandelier

The “Wall of Leaders” in the Palm Room now highlights Trump’s interactions with several high-profile foreign dignitaries. In addition to Putin, the walls feature portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and members of the British Royal Family.

The removal of the family photo—which depicted Trump with his granddaughter at the February 2025 Daytona 500—marks a shift from personal sentiment to an emphasis on executive authority. The new Resolute Desk image reinforces a “commander-in-chief” persona as Trump enters the second year of his second term.

White House correspondents report that the Rose Garden has also been modified to match the new Palm Room style, signaling a broader effort to align the historic residence with the President’s signature branding. The White House has not issued an official statement regarding the rotation of the gallery.