Trump receives mysterious portrait from Putin

In a recent article, BBC highlights that US President Donald Trump has received a new portrait from Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the artwork remains private for now. 

Trump, however, was quick to express his disapproval of a previous portrait of him that had been displayed in the Colorado State Capitol before it was removed this week.

The portrait, described by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as a “personal gift,” has not been publicly revealed. Peskov stated that only Putin could provide further details. Trump’s representative, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that the portrait had arrived in Washington, describing it as a "beautiful" piece by a "leading Russian artist." Witkoff also noted that Trump was “clearly touched” by the gift.

This exchange comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between the US and Russia, as negotiators from both countries continue talks in Saudi Arabia. The portrait symbolizes a thaw in relations between the two nations following Trump’s return to the White House in January.

In a recent interview, Witkoff described Putin as “gracious,” and revealed that the Russian president had prayed for Trump after an assassination attempt on his life last year. The attack, which occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania, produced one of Trump’s most iconic images: bloodied but defiant, raising his fist and urging supporters to “fight, fight, fight.”

While Trump has not publicly commented on the Putin gift, he made his thoughts clear about a painting displayed in Colorado. He criticized the portrait, presented to the Capitol in 2019, as "purposefully distorted." Trump also offered rare praise for the same artist’s portrayal of former President Barack Obama, calling it “wonderful.”

In addition to his critique, Trump used the occasion to criticize Colorado Governor Jared Polis, calling him “radical” and “extremely weak on crime.” However, the portrait was not commissioned by Polis but through a Republican-led crowdfunding campaign, replacing a brief image of Vladimir Putin put up by a prankster. Following backlash, the painting was removed by a bipartisan committee on Monday and will be stored securely.

The BBC reached out to artist Sarah Boardman for comment. In 2019, she acknowledged that presidential portraits often spark strong reactions, noting it is “human nature” for one side to express anger at a president.

Robert Anderson, who painted George W. Bush’s official portrait, shared his perspective, noting that public reactions to portraits often reflect the viewer's political feelings. He said, “It has very little to do with the quality of art.”

A spokesman for Governor Polis expressed surprise at Trump’s interest in the Capitol artwork, saying they “appreciate everyone’s interest” in the building and “are always looking for opportunities to improve our visitor experience.”

By Naila Huseynova