A portrait of former President Donald Trump, commissioned by the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in 2021, has never been shown to the public, and he reportedly wants to keep it that way. According to a new report, Trump prefers a different image to represent his presidency when he leaves office in 2029.
Portrait Painted but Not Displayed
The official portrait from Trump's first term was painted by the late artist Ronald Sherr shortly after he left office. Presidential portraits are typically hung in the gallery's "America's Presidents" exhibit after a president has permanently left office. However, due to Trump's announcement in 2022 that he was running again, the painting was not displayed.
Trump's Preference for a New Image
Now, The New York Times reveals that Trump "prefers a different image to represent his presidency" upon his eventual departure. The 2021 portrait reportedly depicts Trump at a rally with the White House in the background. White House officials told the Times it represents a "vestige of his first term," and discussions have occurred about commissioning a second portrait that encapsulates his entire time in office.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated, "President Trump was appreciative of the portrait created for his 45th term, and looks forward to seeing the completion of a portrait that will encapsulate both his 45th and 47th presidential terms."
Gallery Unaware of Request
However, a spokeswoman for the National Portrait Gallery told the Times that it was "unaware" of a request for a second portrait. When contacted by The Independent, a gallery spokesperson said, "We have no comment at this time."
Lois Sherr, widow of the artist Ronald Sherr, shared that her late husband told her Trump had spoken "warmly" of the portrait. She noted, "What sets this portrait by Ron apart is that he captured Trump's movement, energy and feeling of absolute resolve."
History of Grievances Over Portraits
If portraits or photographs are not to Trump's liking, he has often taken to Truth Social to air his grievances. In October 2025, he complained about a Time Magazine cover photo taken from below, calling it "the Worst of All Time." He wrote, "I never liked taking pictures from underneath angles, but this is a super bad picture, and deserves to be called out."
In March 2025, the Colorado state legislature agreed to take down a painting of Trump that he had blasted on Truth Social as "distorted" and "the worst." Trump commented, "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado ... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before." He added that the artist's portrait of President Obama looked "wonderful," suggesting the artist "must have lost her talent as she got older."
This pattern highlights Trump's sensitivity to his public image and his desire for control over how he is portrayed historically. The fate of the 2021 portrait remains uncertain as discussions about a potential replacement continue behind the scenes.
