The artist who painted a portrait of Donald Trump for the Colorado State Capitol says her 41-year career could be ruined. The painting had been displayed in the Capitol for six years. Then, in January, Trump criticized the work on social media. He called it “purposefully distorted” and “truly the worst.” This led to state lawmakers taking the portrait down.
The backlash has been hard for the artist, Sarah Boardman. She said in a statement that her career might not survive the negative attention. Before Trump’s comments, the portrait had received mostly positive feedback. Boardman explained that, for six years, people had praised the painting. But since the president’s words, the response has been overwhelmingly negative.
Trump’s Strong Reaction to the Painting
The portrait was funded by Colorado Republicans. They raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to commission the oil painting in 2019. The painting was created during Trump’s first term. However, after the president criticized it, he made it clear he would rather have no portrait at all than Boardman’s work hanging in the Capitol.
Trump shared his thoughts on his Truth Social platform. He said that “nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves.” He added that the one in Colorado “was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.”
Boardman Defends Her Artwork
In her statement, Boardman defended the portrait. She said she painted it accurately and without political bias. “I completed the portrait as per my contract,” she said. She emphasized that there was no distortion in the work. She did not try to exaggerate or caricature the president.
Despite Boardman’s defense, the Colorado legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, decided to remove the painting. Local Republican leaders had pushed for its removal. They felt the painting did not represent the president well.
Governor’s Response to the Criticism
Trump did not just criticize Boardman. He also took aim at Democratic Governor Jared Polis. He said Polis should be “ashamed” for allowing the artwork to be displayed in the Capitol. However, a representative for Polis responded. They explained that the governor’s office does not control the Capitol’s decorations.
The spokesperson thanked Trump for his “interest” in the Capitol building. They also mentioned that the office is always looking for ways to improve the visitor experience.
Tourists Still Interested in the Portrait
Even with all the controversy, the portrait attracted tourists. Many people wanted to see it before it was taken down. Some visitors had mixed opinions about the painting. Aron Howe, a Trump supporter, shared his thoughts.
“Honestly, he looks a little chubby,” Howe said about the portrait. “But it’s better than I could do.”
