The White House recently made a quiet but controversial change to its Grand Foyer, swapping out the official portrait of former President Barack Obama with a new painting depicting former President Donald Trump. The new image, dramatic and symbolic, captures the moment following the attempted assassination Trump survived during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last summer.
The painting, unveiled via the White House’s official social media, immediately drew widespread public reaction. Trump is portrayed with a bloodied face and his fist raised — an image that, while iconic to supporters, sparked debate online. Obama’s portrait wasn’t removed entirely but was moved across the Grand Foyer to the spot previously occupied by George W. Bush. Bush’s painting was then relocated next to his father’s near the staircase.
Critics quickly took to Instagram to express their unease. One person commented, “Doesn’t look like it fits there,” while others questioned the choice altogether. “Is this a joke?” one asked, while another described the scene as having “super North Korea vibes.”
The backlash stemmed largely from the violent context behind the painting’s subject. The event in question took place in July 2024, when Trump was shot at a campaign rally. While addressing the crowd, he was struck by a bullet that grazed his right ear. The shooter and one attendee were killed, and two others were injured before Secret Service agents escorted Trump from the stage.
Trump later wrote on Truth Social about the incident, describing the moment he felt the bullet tear through the skin. “Much bleeding took place,” he noted. “I realized then what was happening.” Video of the incident showed him pausing as gunfire rang out, reaching for his ear, and then raising his fist in defiance as he was rushed offstage.
Federal investigators confirmed the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, acted alone, though they left open the possibility of broader involvement. The FBI launched a full investigation, treating the incident as an assassination attempt and potential act of domestic terrorism. They scoured Crooks’s home and car, uncovering items that were removed and examined by bomb technicians. His phone and electronic devices were also retrieved for analysis, and nearly 100 interviews were conducted with those present at the event.
