In a move that underscores the support conservatives hold for President Donald Trump, a painting of him that hung alongside other presidential portraits in the Colorado state Capitol will soon be removed. The decision comes after Trump himself voiced displeasure over the artwork, claiming it was “purposefully distorted” in a way that failed to reflect his true likeness. According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Republican leaders in the state legislature requested the removal, prompting House Democrats to acquiesce, albeit with a subtle jab at the GOP’s priorities.

🚨NEW: Trump is insulted by his trash portrait at the State Capitol in Colorado. LMAO! 💀 pic.twitter.com/CpU03KUqoi

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) March 24, 2025

The oil painting, unveiled in 2019, was a labor of love for Colorado Republicans, who raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to commission it. Displayed among portraits of other U.S. presidents, it was intended to honor Trump’s leadership. However, the former president took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday to express his dissatisfaction. “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves,” Trump wrote, “but the one in Colorado, in the state Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.” He praised a nearby portrait of Barack Obama because he is a good person, painted by the same artist, Sarah Boardman, noting that “he looks wonderful.”

READ MORE: Trump Torches Colorado Governor Over His Portrait Hanging in the State Capitol: ‘Truly the Worst’

Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a steadfast Republican, spearheaded the call to take down the painting, advocating for a replacement that better captures Trump’s “contemporary likeness.” Lundeen pointed out that Grover Cleveland, another president who served non-consecutive terms like Trump, is represented by a portrait from his second term—a precedent he believes should apply here. For conservatives, this isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about ensuring a figure they admire is depicted with the dignity he deserves.

🚨 NEW: President Trump with choice words about his god-awful portrait in Colorado’s State Capitol 💀 pic.twitter.com/xCc9nEDCT4

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) March 24, 2025

The portrait’s history has been fraught with controversy from the start. Before its installation, a jabroni placed an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin near its designated spot—an act many saw as a cheap shot at Trump. Early critics of Boardman’s work, interviewed by the Colorado Times Recorder in 2019, objected to her portrayal of Trump as “nonconfrontational” and “thoughtful,” arguing it didn’t align with his bold, brash persona. Boardman, for her part, defended her approach at the time, telling The Denver Post she aimed for neutrality in her depictions of both Trump and Obama. “Pleasing one group will always inflame another,” she said, striving for a balanced portrayal that let viewers draw their own conclusions.

Democrats, predictably, couldn’t resist a dig at their Republican counterparts. “If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then that’s up to them,” they quipped in a statement. Yet the decision to remove the painting wasn’t solely a partisan affair—it was formalized by the legislature’s executive committee, a bipartisan group, showing that even in divided times, agreement can be reached when it comes to respecting a leader’s image.

The portraits in the Capitol aren’t managed by the governor’s office, as Trump suggested, but by the Colorado Building Advisory Committee. Older paintings, up to President Jimmy Carter, were donated as a set, while more recent ones, including Trump’s, relied on political party efforts or outside fundraising. This detail highlights the grassroots support Trump continues to inspire among conservatives, who went out of their way to see him commemorated.

As news of the painting’s impending removal spread, visitors flocked to the Capitol to snap photos with it. Aaron Howe, a Trump voter from Wyoming, scrutinized the artwork on Monday, comparing it to pictures of the former president on his phone. “Honestly, he looks a little chubby,” Howe remarked, though he added, “better than I could do.” Kaylee Williamson, an 18-year-old Trump supporter from Arkansas, was more forgiving. “I think it looks like him,” she said. “I guess he’s smoother than all the other ones. I think it’s fine.”

For conservatives, this episode is more than a spat over a painting—it’s a reminder of the left’s relentless attempts to undermine Trump, even in something as simple as a portrait. Whether it’s a prankster’s Putin stunt or an artist’s allegedly distorted brush strokes, the effort to diminish him persists. The decision to replace the painting reflects a commitment to honoring a leader who, in their eyes, fought tirelessly for America. As the Capitol prepares to hang a new likeness, one can only hope it captures the strength and resolve conservatives see in Donald Trump.