A long-standing White House tradition has been broken, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Former White House photographer Pete Souza revealed that Barack Obama’s official portrait, which should hang in the Grand Foyer, has instead been stashed away in a restricted stairwell by order of Donald Trump.
The placement means visitors and staff can’t see it — a sharp break from decades of custom meant to honor the office, not the occupant.
Pete Souza Speaks Out
Souza, who photographed both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, took to Instagram to call out the decision. He asked if the move was “petty or racist,” and questioned whether it was done simply because, as he put it, “President Obama lives rent free in the current occupant’s head.”
He noted that portraits of past leaders — from Lincoln to Washington — are always displayed prominently as a reminder of continuity. “This,” he added, “is different.”
A Tense History
The portrait’s relocation comes after years of bitter tension between Trump and Obama. Trump has accused his predecessor of treason, a claim dismissed as “outrageous” by Obama’s office.
From public barbs to policy clashes, their rivalry has shaped much of the political atmosphere of the last decade. Hiding Obama’s portrait adds another symbolic strike in that ongoing feud.
A Stark Contrast
If Obama’s image is tucked out of sight, Trump’s own portrait of choice is impossible to miss. His historic mugshot — taken in 2023 after his Georgia arrest — now hangs just outside the Oval Office. The scowling image has already drawn commentary, with former adviser John Bolton suggesting the pose was meant to project toughness. The contrast between the hidden portrait of one president and the framed mugshot of another could not be sharper.
Breaking With Tradition
For critics, the decision to hide Obama’s portrait is more than a matter of personal dislike. It undermines a White House ritual designed to honor history and the presidency itself.
Whether petty, political, or deeply personal, the choice highlights how even a simple portrait on the wall can carry powerful meaning about leadership, legacy, and respect for the office.
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