A bold visual shift at the White House has reignited debate over presidential imagery, after two contrasting portrayals of the U.S. President — one photographic, one painted — appeared in high-profile locations within weeks of each other.
On June 2, 2025, the White House unveiled a newly updated official portrait of Donald J. Trump, prompting widespread public attention and commentary. The portrait was released with little explanation, replacing an earlier version from January, 2025.
A netizen’s comment on President Donald Trump’s new portrait, dated June 3, 2025 | Source: Facebook/CBSNews
In the image, Trump appears in front of a stark black background, wearing his signature red tie. His facial features are highlighted by deep shadowing, a notable contrast from the previously released photograph, which showed him with a brightly lit face, a blue tie, and an American flag behind him. Both photographs were taken by Daniel Torok, the chief White House photographer.
The updated portrait was showcased in a short video posted by the White House on Monday, capturing the moment it was installed in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
A White House official told CBS News that the image will soon replace the previous portraits displayed across federal buildings and offices. The updated version has also been uploaded to the White House’s official website.
The president’s first-term official portrait depicted him smiling in front of the American flag. By contrast, the new version’s darker tones and somber expression have led some on social media to compare it to his 2023 booking photo taken at the Fulton County Jail.
That image, captured on August 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia, corresponded to Donald Trump’s surrender on 13 charges related to an alleged effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
U.S. President Donald Trump poses for his booking photo at the Fulton County Jail on August 24, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia | Source: Getty Images
The resemblance to his mugshot became a key talking point online. One person on Facebook commented, “Looks like his mugshot [sic].” Another replied, “exactly what I thought [sic]!”
More netizens echoed the same sentiment, with one adding, “Is that his mugshot?” Another one expressed, “Looks like a mugshot to me [sic].” Yet another person remarked, “Great pic! His serious side [sic].”
On X, the conversation continued with similar enthusiasm. One commenter asked, “Who painted it?” Another wrote, “Oh my gosh! The portrait is great but the frame… so many wonderful frames to choose from and somebody chose this?” Meanwhile, one person showed support, “I like it… I like it a lot!!”
Nearly two months earlier, on April 11, 2025, a post shared by the White House and Trump’s official Instagram accounts caught the public’s eye. The caption read, “Some new artwork at the White House.”
The post referred to a new painting displayed in the Grand Foyer of the White House. According to CNN, the artwork depicts an iconic moment from the previous summer, showing President Trump raising his right fist, blood on his face, after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Two officials confirmed to CNN that the painting is authentic and currently displayed in one of the East Wing’s most prominent locations.
As part of the display change, the official portrait of former President Barack Obama was moved across the foyer to the location previously held by President George W. Bush. Bush’s portrait was subsequently repositioned near a staircase beside that of his father, former President George H. W. Bush.
The dramatic nature of the painting and its placement in a highly visible White House location fueled public conversation and speculation.
Both the updated portrait and the newly displayed painting highlight how visual representations of political figures continue to generate strong public reactions and serve as symbols within the broader national dialogue.
