Trump moves Obama and Bush portraits out of prime White House spot to hidden stairwell

WASHINGTON, DC: As renovations at the White House draw public attention, President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by moving the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to a significantly less prominent location in the entryway.

The shift highlights the enduring tensions between the 44th and 47th presidents. It also follows renewed claims by Trump, who has accused Obama of plotting to sabotage his first term by linking him to Russian interference in the 2016 election. 

Trump moves Obama's official portrait to spot hidden from public view

Donald Trump personally ordered staff to move Barack Obama’s official portrait to the top of the Grand Staircase, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. The relocation places the portrait in a spot almost entirely hidden from the thousands of daily White House visitors, effectively removing it from public view.

The 79-year-old also directed staff to move the portraits of former Presidents George W Bush and George HW Bush, both of whom he has publicly criticized, to the same staircase area. One source confirmed that both Bush portraits now hang alongside Obama’s in that less accessible location.

Multiple sources told CNN that Trump remains deeply involved in nearly every aspect of the White House’s aesthetic decisions, no matter how big or small. The network also obtained a photo showing Obama’s portrait positioned at the top of the stairwell, tucked into a corner near the landing that leads to the private residence.

This area is off-limits to the public and is accessible only to members of the first family, select White House and Executive Residence staff, and Secret Service agents.

Sources confirmed that the placement ensures visitors can no longer view the photorealistic painting of Obama by artist Robert McCurdy, a decision that appears to reflect ongoing personal and political tensions.

Has Trump previously moved Obama’s portrait in the White House?

This isn’t the first time former President Barack Obama’s portrait has been moved under Donald Trump’s direction. Back in April, staff relocated the painting from its prominent position across the Grand Foyer and replaced it with artwork depicting a dramatic moment, Trump surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Traditionally, the White House follows long-standing protocol that places portraits of the most recent presidents in the Grand Foyer, where they are easily visible to guests during official events and to the public on guided tours. Despite this, Obama’s portrait has been sidelined, and a portrait of former President Joe Biden has yet to be completed and installed.

The latest reshuffling of portraits signals another deliberate snub from Trump toward a political rival, reinforcing a pattern of using symbolic gestures to express ongoing hostilities.

What happened between Trump and Obama?

Tensions between Donald Trump and Barack Obama have intensified in recent months. Trump has publicly accused Obama and key members of his administration of committing treason during the 2016 election, alleging they fabricated intelligence linking his campaign to Russian interference.

The accusation sparked a rare response from Obama’s office, which dismissed the claims as “outrageous,” “bizarre,” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”

Following Trump’s remarks, Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into whether Obama-era officials intentionally manipulated intelligence reports related to Russia’s role in the 2016 election.

Internet reacts as Trump moves Obama’s portrait to a hidden stairwell

Just hours after reports surfaced that Donald Trump had moved Barack Obama’s portrait to a secluded stairwell in the White House, the story exploded across social media. Millions viewed the news, and over 5,200 users weighed in with comments, many sharply critical, some fiercely supportive.

One wrote, “What a petty and insecure man,” while another mocked the move, saying, “No worries, Trump. The next president will remove every photo of you inside the White House.”

A person slammed Trump, writing, “He’s so ridiculously insecure 👑.”

Supporters of Trump also joined the conversation, with one declaring, “It should be completely removed from the building. He is a traitor of the republic.”

Other users took a more reflective tone. "Trump has always been scared of Obama’s popularity,” one suggested, while another speculated, “I'm sure he would sell it if he could, but this does the trick too."

One final tweet summed up the broader criticism: “Cringe and does nothing to better the country. More bread and circuses !"

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online