Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most presidential of them all? Apparently, for Donald Trump, the answer is obvious: himself. In the heart of the White House’s East Colonnade, where the official portrait of Hillary Clinton once stood proudly between those of Laura and Barbara Bush, a new artwork has appeared, drenched in patriotic colors. It depicts the GOP leader with an American flag painted across his face, in full “MAGA poster” style.
New pictures, including one of @realDonaldTrump, on a White House wall where @HillaryClinton’s portrait used to hang next to the portrait of Laura Bush. pic.twitter.com/QLdKjBw11G
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) June 18, 2025
The news quickly made the rounds on the platform X, fueled by a post from Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason, who shared a photo of the painting that sparked a wave of reactions ranging from sarcastic to downright bewildered. Some users compared the artwork to something you’d find at a tacky souvenir shop, while others questioned whether the image was authentic to begin with, and not just an inflammatory attempt at fake news. But, as is often the case with Trump, the truth is more nuanced than it seems. While it’s true that the former First Lady’s portrait disappeared around the same time the new painting emerged, archived images tell a different story: for a while, the two portraits hung side by side. The replacement wasn’t as immediate or as pointedly symbolic as many assumed.
In fact, Clinton’s absence has nothing to do with presidential revenge and everything to do with a far more peaceful cultural affair. The official portrait of the former Secretary of State is currently on loan to the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, where it’s featured in the exhibition “Portraits of a Presidency.” The show spanning paintings, sculptures, and photographs celebrates the Clinton family with over 50 works. Opened just days ago and running through December 7, the exhibition includes both Bill and Hillary Clinton’s portraits, both painted by Simmie Knox, the first African American artist ever commissioned to paint a U.S. president.
