In a move that underscores the ongoing tensions with his predecessors, President Donald Trump has ordered the official portraits of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush to be relocated from their prominent spots in the White House to the top of the Grand Staircase. This area is largely private, accessible only to the first family, Secret Service agents, and select staff, keeping the portraits out of view from the thousands of visitors who tour the White House daily.
The photorealistic portrait of Barack Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy, had previously hung prominently in the Grand Foyer before being moved this past April and replaced by a painting depicting Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Now, it hangs tucked away in a corner at the stairwell landing near the entrance to the private residence.
Traditionally, recent presidents’ portraits are displayed in the most visible areas of the executive mansion, ensuring guests and official visitors have a clear view during events and tours. The decision to relocate these portraits breaks with that long-standing protocol and highlights the palpable friction between the 44th and 47th presidents.
Sources close to the White House say that Trump is deeply involved in decisions regarding the home’s aesthetics, both big and small. The current moves come amid a backdrop of escalating political tension, including Trump’s public accusations that Obama’s administration committed treason relating to the 2016 election—a charge Obama’s office has strongly denied.
Trump Moves Obama White House Portraits
Similar tensions have marked Trump’s relations with the Bush family. The late George H.W. Bush criticized Trump publicly, while George W. Bush, labeled by Trump as a “failed and uninspiring” president, attended the 2025 inauguration but notably skipped the post-ceremony luncheon.
This portrait shuffle is not unprecedented in Trump’s presidency. Early in his term, he replaced the portraits of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in the Grand Foyer with those of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, showcasing a preference for certain historical figures.
The formal tradition of presidential portraits began in the early 1960s under First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Since then, displaying these portraits has been a symbol of respect and continuity between administrations.
As of now, White House representatives and the White House Historical Association have not commented on the recent relocations, while Obama’s office has declined to respond.
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