On Friday this week, the portrait of former US President Donald Trump was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.
The portraits are a tradition for presidents who have resigned, and the museum therefore has a portrait of most former presidents.
However, there are several things that are now catching the eye in Trump’s portrait, he writes The Guardian.
IN FAMOUS POSITION: Trump is pictured sitting at his desk in the Oval Office, wearing his familiar red tie. Photo: NTB / Tasos Katopodis / UPI National Portrait Gallery Reopens
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Raises eyebrows
Among other things, several have noted that the picture is placed directly opposite the painting of John Lewis, an influential congressman and one of the leading figures in the civil rights struggle of the 60s.
Lewis refused to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as president because he thought he was illegally elected because of Russian interference. When Trump later commented on “shithole countries“, Lewis concluded that Trump was simply racist.
The portrait of Donald Trump was taken by photographer Pari Dukovic on June 17, 2019 – the day before Donald Trump announced that he would ask for re-election. Trump is pictured sitting at his desk in the Oval Office, wearing his familiar red tie.
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Did not admit defeat
The portrait is accompanied by a caption that notes that Trump was elected president with an “America First” agenda. The text also registers his two Supreme Court cases, and that “the corona pandemic became a central theme” during his election campaign in 2020.
It goes on to say: “Trump did not admit it [nederlag], and a gang of his supporters, who refused to accept the election results, stormed the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021, as Congress worked to certify [Joe] Biden’s election winner. “
Ever since the defeat in the presidential election in November last year, the then president, Donald Trump, has continued to make the untrue claim that the election was stolen from him.
6th January his supporters stormed Congress in a deadly attempt to reverse the election result.
– Difficult to look at
The gallery partially opened to visitors on Friday, after being closed for six months as a result of the pandemic. Several former first ladies can also be seen at the famous gallery – including Martha Washington and Melania Trump.
MELANIA PORTRAIT: Several former first ladies can be seen at the famous gallery – including Melania Trump. Photo: NTB / Tasos Katopodis / UPI National Portrait Gallery Reopens
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The Guardian writes that many visitors took the trip to the newly opened gallery, and that the portrait of former US President Donald Trump attracted attention among several.
Fran McDonald, professor at the University of Louisville, was not very enthusiastic about the portrait, the newspaper writes.
– It is difficult to look at. I first started taking a picture of it, and then I decided I did not want it on my phone. I’m so relieved we don ‘t need to see or hear him anymore. It was a relentless attack on my senses to have him in a 24-hour news cycle, she says.
The portrait will reportedly be replaced by a painting by Trump at a later date – and the former president’s team is now evaluating potential artists.
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