A new portrait of President Trump by artist Vanessa Horabuena has replaced the controversial previous artwork at Colorado’s Capitol after months of criticism and public debate.

White House Donation Replaces Previous Display

After months of backlash and controversy, the Colorado state Capitol has installed a new official portrait of President Donald Trump. The portrait, painted by Arizona-based artist Vanessa Horabuena, now hangs in the third-floor gallery of the Denver Capitol, replacing the previous depiction by Colorado artist Sarah Boardman. The change follows sustained criticism from Trump and supporters, who labeled Boardman’s artwork as “purposely distorted.”

The Capitol Building Advisory Committee confirmed on Wednesday that the new painting was donated by the White House and was put on display last week. The committee, which oversees all artwork at the Capitol, described the Horabuena portrait as a temporary measure while the future of the full presidential portrait collection is evaluated. “The Capitol Building Advisory Committee has agreed at the committee’s meeting on June 26, 2025, to temporarily display this donated portrait and will consider the disposition of the full presidential portrait collection at a future meeting,” the committee stated.

Artist Selection Follows Presidential Criticism

The previous portrait by Sarah Boardman, which had been on display since 2019, drew the ire of President Trump last spring. On social media, Trump sharply criticized Boardman’s work, claiming she “must have lost her talent as she got older” and “purposely distorted” his likeness. He contrasted his depiction unfavorably to her painting of President Obama, which he said “looks wonderful.” Boardman, for her part, denied the accusations but declined to comment further on the newly installed painting.

Unlike Boardman’s painting, which presented a much younger Trump, Horabuena’s new portrait closely mirrors Trump’s intense, official presidential photo. The artist, described as a “Christian worship artist,” has created several other notable works, including depictions of Abraham Lincoln, Mount Rushmore, and Jesus Christ.

Trump expressed his gratitude in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, writing, “Thank you to the Highly Talented Artist, Vanessa Horabuena, and the incredible people of Colorado.” The new portrait was installed after a committee vote last Thursday, with support from both White House officials and local lawmakers. Lois Court, the former state lawmaker who chairs the advisory committee, explained that “there was a blank on the wall. It seemed inappropriate. We knew that the White House had sent us this replacement and it simply made sense to put it up.”

Boardman’s painting was removed from the Capitol in April, following a decision by Democratic legislators, who control the Colorado statehouse, to accede to a request from Republican leaders. The committee emphasized that the change was part of a broader review of the state’s collection of presidential portraits and that further decisions would be made in the coming months.

The replacement of Trump’s portrait at the Colorado Capitol underscores the highly charged nature of public art and political imagery in the United States. As debates over artistic representation and presidential legacy continue, the Capitol’s advisory committee remains tasked with balancing public opinion, historical accuracy, and artistic freedom.