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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn a Sign of a Divided America, Trump Will Not Unveil Obama Portrait in the White House Anytime Soon
In a Sign of a Divided America, President Trump Will Not Unveil Barack Obamas New Portrait in the White House Anytime SoonFor the first time in decades, the former and sitting presidents will not meet for the debut of the official artwork.
Breaking with a tradition that goes back more than forty years, President Trump will not welcome his predecessor, Barack Obama, into the East Wing for the grand reveal of his White House portrait. Amid an escalating war of words between the current and former presidents, NBC News reports that neither wants to take part in the ritual. Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama will therefore likely not be installed until Trump is out of office.
The White House displays portraits of every president since George Washington. These official artworks are created through a highly specific process: they are commissioned by the White House Historical Association, a privately funded heritage organization, with the artists being selected personally by the former president and first lady. When complete, the Association donates the paintings to the White House, whose curator places them.
According to NBC, the artists for the Obama portraits were selected in early 2017, though because of a confidentiality agreement, the details remain unknown. Recent White House portraits have been by John Howard Sanden, who painted both George W. Bush and Laura Bush in 2012; Simmie Knox, who painted Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in 2001; Herbert E. Abrams, who painted George H.W. Bush in 1994; and Chas Fagen, who painted Barbara Bush, also in 1994.
The unveiling customarily happens towards the end of the first term of a presidents successor, and brings the former presidents staff, family, and friends back to the White House to mingle with the current occupants. The Obamas, for instance, welcomed George and Laura Bush in the East Wing for their reveal in 2012.
Read more: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-obama-portraits-white-house-1865568
President Barack Obama welcomes former President George W. Bush and Former First Lady Laura Bush back to the White House to unveil his formal Presidential portrait that will hang form this point on in the White House. Photo by ImageCatcher News Service/Corbis via Getty Images.
trixie2
(905 posts)Blue Owl
(49,918 posts)Grow up and act like a man, you spoiled little piece of shit
roamer65
(36,739 posts)Chewed just enuff that it still has sugar, so it sticks well and removes paint.
I figured the orange spray paint can may not major it through security.
struggle4progress
(118,041 posts)Yeah, it takes a petty man to do such petty stuff ! He's pettier now and who ain't had enough ?
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)Or one who doesn't read? Will there be a library, for instance??
Initech
(99,915 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He will never, ever measure up to BHO no matter what he does. He will never even come close. He is an abysmal failure in every way. As a president, as a man, as a human being. Obama will always be superior to him in every way and nothing he can do will ever change that.
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)The evidence was overwhelming and they only presented part of it. I had hopes since the Republicans finally stepped up to the plate on Nixon - and that's what it would have taken for Trump. But unfortunately the current batch of Republicans are as corrupt and unpatriotic as Trump is.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)SunSeeker
(51,370 posts)sfstaxprep
(9,998 posts)Let President Biden unveil it in January, and stand side by side with Barack.
Journeyman
(15,001 posts)knowing that someday, soon, another Administration will be in the White House and that he will most likely outlive President Trump, for even though Trump seems but a toddler, he's truly a very decrepit, very miserable dotard.
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)But then he has always been the smartest guy in any room with a demeanor and maturity that Trump cannot understand or imagine. And you're right, President Obama will still be with us when Trump is only a brief, hopefully forgettable stain on our otherwise proud history.
Cha
(295,914 posts)Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)And that's a beautiful portrait - the suit is particularly becoming!
Cha
(295,914 posts)Dem now.
Ah yes.. the tan suit lives for Eternity.. take that fox scews.
Mahalo, Rhiannon
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)And so much for the Republican outrage about that tan suit!
Cha
(295,914 posts)Ever!
napi21
(45,806 posts)Jill Biden had in Ga. today. She dud well, as expected, but one thing she did that really impressed me. Right after she introduced herself and related where she went to school and what her goals were, she explained what her dreams were. I cant do an exact quote, but something like this: I dream of 2021, and I see everyone watching their TV when their President comes on and not having to change the channel. They'll be happy their children are back in school, and all of them are doing well because we now have free education from kindergarten (age 3) thru 12. Th US is the respected leader of the free World once again, and we will have rejoined the Paris accords and are leading the World in climate change efforts. She had several other things in her dream and then went on to answer questions. It plants the "dream" in the listeners minds and have something to look forward to.
I feel it was brilliant to include "the dreams" because it points out some of the things DT has f'ed up and how things can be good again when a responsible, experienced person is in charge who puts capable people in all the positions that have been decimated by installing "good buddies or campaign donors" who know nothing about their jobs.
Joe will be honored to invite the Obamas back to the WH for the unveiling of his portrait.
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)Her words are exactly what we're all hanging onto and hoping for! And I have long looked forward to turning on the news again and not immediately changing the channel when the threat of seeing footage of Trump comes up! And Jill Biden is also the smartest woman in any room - one more thing to look forward to!
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)I wonder what basement toilet they will hang his portrait in. Malaria of course should pose semi nude and have her portrait relegated to an adjoining toilet for display.
LisaM
(27,759 posts)Of course, its being Obama makes it even more petty, and it's to be expected. But frankly, I don't think he would he capable of honoring any predecessor.
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)He's not a Republican, he once registered Democratic and also Independent. He has no allegiances except to himself and he's always only been in this for how he could benefit, especially monetarily, for himself personally.
Worried2020
(444 posts).
.
From the OP
"NBC News reports that neither wants to take part in the ritual"
W
Rhiannon12866
(202,984 posts)If you notice, the pic in the OP was of the Obamas welcoming the Bushes back to the White House to dedicate their portraits. And POTUS is a very exclusive club, it's also been tradition for new presidents to call on their predecessors for advice and help, regardless of party. LBJ called on his predecessor, Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter only had Ford and Nixon and he found Ford to be particularly helpful in dealing with Congress. George H.W. Bush called on Carter for diplomatic missions and Carter also was responsible for the last nuclear treaty with North Korea on behalf of the Clinton administration in 1994.
Trump is the exception to any tradition or usual camaraderie. His insistence on investigating the previous Obama administration on unspecified charges ("Obamagate" ) is responsible for the bad feeling between them. Can you imagine Trump in this photo??
p.s. Welcome to DU!