DENVER (KKTV) — A new portrait of President Donald Trump is now hanging in the Colorado Capitol, replacing a previous version that Trump criticized earlier this year as “purposefully distorted.”
The new portrait, painted by Vanessa Horabuena, an artist based in Tempe, Arizona, was donated by the Executive Office of the President and has been temporarily installed in the Capitol’s third-floor presidential portrait gallery.
In a March social media post, Trump slammed the earlier portrait—painted by a Colorado Springs artist and commissioned by Colorado Republicans in 2019—claiming it was intentionally unflattering.
“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves… but the one in Colorado… was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump wrote.
“I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one… Jared [Polis] should be ashamed of himself!”
Following the backlash, the Capitol Building Advisory Committee confirmed that the original portrait was removed in April 2025 at the request of legislative leaders.
In a statement Monday, the committee said it has agreed to temporarily display the newly donated portrait while the future of the full presidential portrait collection is reviewed.
The updated Trump portrait now hangs among other presidential images on display at the Capitol.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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