President Donald Trump has relocated the official White House portrait of former President Barack Obama from its traditional, highly visible position to a more secluded location, marking a break with long-standing protocol. This move, according to CNN, reflects ongoing tensions between Trump and Obama, as well as with former Presidents George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush, whose portraits have also been shifted. Traditionally, portraits of the most recent presidents are displayed prominently in the entrance area of the executive mansion, where they are easily seen by official guests and members of the public on tours. Instead, Obama’s portrait now hangs at the top of the Grand Staircase, a space largely restricted to the first family, select staff, and the Secret Service, effectively removing it from public view.
The change follows an earlier decision in April to move Obama’s portrait across the Grand Foyer, replacing it with a painting of Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. The official portrait of President Joe Biden has yet to be completed. This is not the first time Trump has altered the Grand Foyer’s display; during his first term, he removed the portraits of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, substituting them with images of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Sources indicate that Trump remains personally involved in even minor aesthetic decisions within the White House, closely overseeing the arrangement of its artworks and decorations.
The relocation also underscores deeper political rifts. Trump has accused Obama and his administration of treason linked to the 2016 election, allegations the former president’s office has dismissed as outrageous and politically motivated. In the wake of these accusations, Attorney General Pamela Bondi initiated a grand jury investigation into claims that senior Obama officials fabricated intelligence about Russian election interference. Relations with the Bush family remain strained as well. The late George H. W. Bush referred to Trump as a “blowhard” and voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, while George W. Bush, whom Trump has called “failed and uninspiring,” skipped the traditional inauguration luncheon in 2025, although he attended the swearing-in ceremony.
The tradition of official presidential portraits was formalised in the 1960s under First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, with the nonprofit White House Historical Association typically funding the works. Before that, costs were often covered by Congress, private donors, or the presidents themselves. In normal circumstances, these portraits not only serve as historical records but also as public symbols of continuity and respect among leaders. The recent changes, however, signal a shift toward using portrait placement as a reflection of personal and political relationships, rather than as a matter of ceremonial tradition.
