CNN: Trump relocates Obama, Bush portraits to discreet White House stairwell

US President Donald Trump has directed White House staff to relocate the official portrait of former President Barack Obama from a prominent location in the Grand Foyer to a concealed stairwell within the executive residence.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that the photorealistic portrait of the 44th president by Robert McCurdy now hangs at the top of the Grand Staircase, an area largely off-limits to the public and most White House visitors. The area is typically accessed only by members of the first family, the Secret Service, and select residence staff.

“Multiple sources have said that the president is directly involved with nearly everything that is done to the aesthetic of the White House, big or small,” CNN noted.

Obama’s portrait had previously been relocated in April, when it was replaced in the Grand Foyer by a painting depicting Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Portraits of former Presidents George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush have also reportedly been moved to the same stairwell area. Traditionally, the Grand Foyer features portraits of the most recent US presidents as a symbol of continuity and respect. The White House has not commented on the moves.

The relocation underscores deep-seated animosity between Trump and his predecessors. Trump recently accused Obama and his administration of treason over alleged misconduct during the 2016 election. Obama's office responded, calling the claims “outrageous,” “bizarre,” and “a weak attempt at distraction.” Attorney General Pamela Bondi has since ordered a grand jury investigation into the matter.

Tensions also persist between Trump and the Bush family. The late George H. W. Bush once labeled Trump a “blowhard,” while George W. Bush, whom Trump has criticized as “a failed and uninspiring” president, was notably absent from Trump’s 2025 inaugural luncheon.

During Trump’s first term, he had already removed the portraits of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush from the Grand Foyer, opting instead to display those of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

A portrait of President Joe Biden has yet to be completed.

By Vafa Guliyeva