The official portrait of former president Barack Obama has been removed from its prominent position in the White House entrance and relocated to a secluded staircase, in a move that underscores the strained relationship between the 44th and 47th presidents.
The photorealistic Robert McCurdy painting, once a feature of the Grand Foyer, now hangs at the top of the Grand Staircase, an area restricted to the first family, Secret Service and a small number of staff.
It is out of sight for thousands of visitors who pass through the executive mansion on public tours. Portraits of George W Bush and George HW Bush – both of whom Donald Trump has publicly criticised – have been moved to the same location.
White House protocol typically places recent presidential portraits in prominent public view, visible during official events and to tourists. A portrait of President Joe Biden has yet to be completed.
This is not the first relocation for Obama’s image. In April it was removed from the foyer and replaced by a painting depicting Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The shift comes as political hostilities between Trump and Obama have sharpened. Trump has accused his predecessor of “treason” over the 2016 election, claims Obama’s office called “outrageous” and “a weak attempt at distraction.” Attorney general Pamela Bondi has since ordered a grand jury inquiry into whether Obama officials fabricated intelligence about Russian interference.
Trump’s relationship with the Bush family has also been fractious. The elder Bush, who died in 2018, called him a “blowhard” and backed Hillary Clinton in 2016. George W Bush, described by Trump as “failed and uninspiring,” attended the 2025 inauguration but skipped the post-ceremony luncheon.
The modern tradition of presidential portraits dates back to Jacqueline Kennedy’s tenure as first lady in the early 1960s, intended as a gesture of respect and continuity between administrations.
