President Donald Trump has ordered the official portraits of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush to be moved to a hidden stairwell within the White House.
According to CNN, Trump instructed staff to place Obama’s portrait at the top of the Grand Staircase—a location largely out of sight for the thousands of visitors who tour the White House. The portraits of both Bush presidents were also moved to this stairwell area.
The new site for Obama’s portrait is near the entrance to the private residence, an area with limited access reserved for the first family, Secret Service agents, and select White House staff.
This is not the first time Obama’s portrait has been shifted. In April, it was relocated across the Grand Foyer and replaced with a painting depicting Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Traditionally, White House protocol ensures that portraits of the most recent presidents occupy prominent spaces visible during official events and tours. Notably, former President Joe Biden’s portrait has yet to be completed.
Insiders say President Trump remains hands-on with changes to the White House’s decor.
This move comes amid rising tensions between Trump and Obama. Recently, Trump accused Obama and his administration of treason related to the 2016 election—a claim Obama’s office dismissed as “outrageous,” “bizarre,” and a “weak attempt at distraction,” possibly linked to the controversy surrounding the release of Jeffrey Epstein documents that have put Trump’s team under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice, directed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has launched a grand jury investigation into allegations that senior Obama officials fabricated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The relocation of the Bush portraits also reflects longstanding friction between Trump and the Bush family. The late George H.W. Bush called Trump a “blowhard” and voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, while Trump has publicly described George W. Bush as a “failed and uninspiring” president.
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