Artist of ‘truly the worst’ Trump portrait worries her career might be over after POTUS ire

Disputing claims of “purposeful distortion,” the artist behind “truly the worst” portrait of President Donald Trump addressed the “danger” posed by the GOP leader’s criticism.

Unlike the official White House portraits, which the president proudly displays, Trump has been made aware of a commissioned painting hanging in the Colorado State Capitol that left him demanding it be taken down late in March. Acquiescence to that request may have satisfied the commander-in-chief, but now the artist responsible is lamenting how ongoing criticism has put her decades-long business “in danger of not recovering.”

Releasing a statement on her website following “110 press-organization enquires,” Sarah Boardman spoke directly to the president’s public commentary on her work as she asserted, “I refer to President Trump’s post on Truth Social in which my intentions, integrity, and abilities were, in my opinion, called into question.”

“I completed the portrait accurately without ‘purposeful distortion,’ political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, actual or implied. I fulfilled the task per my contract,” she continued while claiming to have received “overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback” before the president’s comments.

“President Trump is entitled to comment freely, as we all are, but the additional allegations that I ‘purposefully distorted’ the portrait, and that I ‘must have lost my talent as I got older’ are now directly and negatively impacting my business of over 41 years which now is in danger of not recovering,” contended Boardman.

Having been alerted to the portrait that has been hanging in the Denver government building since August 2019, Trump took to Truth Social to suggest, “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, 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.”

“The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst,” added the president. “She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it!”

‘Take it down’: Trump tells Colorado governor to remove ‘purposefully distorted’ portrait of him https://t.co/bVQDOzazJw

— BPR (@BIZPACReview) March 24, 2025

While Trump found fault with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), that portrait was the result of a 2018 crowdfunding effort from then-state Sen. Keven Grantham (R), who reportedly raised $10,000 to fill the spot in the State Capitol that remained vacant.

“Whether this portrait brings a smile or a scowl to your face, remember you have the right to do so because this is the United States of America,” he said during the ceremony that was attended by Boardman.

Following the president’s remarks, the portrait was removed from the wall and placed in storage, and while Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen (R) called for a replacement “that depicts [Trump’s] contemporary likeness,” there have yet to be reports of efforts to commission a new portrait.

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.