It’s not unusual for White House décor to change from president to president, but Donald Trump has reportedly taken that tradition to a new — and very personal — level.
According to a CNN report, the former president ordered Barack Obama’s official portrait to be moved from a high-traffic, public area to a spot most visitors will never see.
The painting now hangs at the top of the Grand Staircase leading to the private White House residence — an area off-limits to the public, except for the Secret Service, the first family, and a select few staff members.
Bush Family Portraits Also Relegated
Obama’s portrait isn’t alone in its new, secluded spot. The official portraits of George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush were also removed from prime viewing areas and placed alongside Obama’s painting in the same restricted staircase.
The move is a notable break from White House tradition.
Typically, portraits of recent former presidents are displayed prominently where visitors on official tours can see them.
Criticism Over Trump’s Redecorating Choices
The decision has sparked criticism from Trump’s political opponents and even some conservatives.
Camille MacKenzie, founder of the conservative New Patriot Foundation, posted on X that while she couldn’t confirm the report, it “sounds very likely” given Trump’s personality and past White House decorating choices.
She also accused him of replacing historic portraits with artwork resembling AI-generated images of himself.
A History of Moving Obama’s Portrait
This isn’t the first time Trump has shifted Obama’s likeness.
In April, the White House quietly moved Obama’s portrait from the left side of the Grand Foyer to the right side near a piano.
The space Obama’s portrait once occupied was filled with a painting of Trump during his first assassination attempt, shouting “fight, fight, fight.”
Reports say Trump is deeply involved in nearly every aspect of White House aesthetics, often making changes himself.
One example from earlier this year placed a self-portrait of Trump — featuring his face overlaid with the American flag’s stars and stripes — between portraits of First Lady Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, his 2016 election rival.
A Symbol of Political Tensions
The latest relocation of Obama’s portrait comes amid escalating tensions between the two presidents.
Earlier this month, Trump accused Obama and members of his administration of committing treason over the handling of the 2016 election results.
Obama’s office dismissed the claims as “bizarre” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi later ordered a grand jury investigation into allegations that top Obama officials fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the election.
Long-Standing Friction With the Bush Family
Trump’s strained relationship with the Bush family has also been well-documented.
Before his death in 2018, George H.W. Bush reportedly called Trump a “blowhard” and supported Hillary Clinton in 2016.
George W. Bush and his wife Laura have not endorsed Trump in either the 2020 or 2024 elections.
While presidential portrait placement might seem like a small matter, in Washington it can carry heavy political symbolism — and in this case, it’s yet another public sign of the deep divides between Trump and his predecessors.