‘Who Painted It?’: New Official Presidential

ByP

A striking change in presidential imagery at the White House has sparked debate after two contrasting depictions of President Donald Trump were unveiled within weeks. On June 2, 2025, a new official portrait of Trump was released, showing him in a dark setting with a red tie and shadowed features—vastly different from his earlier, brightly lit portrait with a blue tie and American flag. The image, taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok, drew comparisons to Trump’s 2023 booking photo after his Georgia indictment, prompting mixed reactions on social media. The new portrait is set to replace older versions across federal buildings and has already been installed at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Back in April, a dramatic painting of Trump was displayed in the Grand Foyer, showing him bloodied and raising a fist after surviving a 2024 assassination attempt. This artwork led to a reshuffling of presidential portraits, with Barack Obama’s moved to make space. Both the painting and the updated photograph stirred public commentary, underscoring how presidential visuals can influence public opinion and reflect broader national conversations about leadership, resilience, and image.