Obama’s Portrait Relocated in the White House

On Tuesday, former Chief White House photographer Pete Souza took a shot at President Trump for moving former President Obama’s official portrait. The portrait has been relocated from the entrance of the White House to the top of a grand staircase.

According to reports, the current administration shifted Obama’s portrait from its prominent spot in the Grand Foyer to a less visible area at the summit of the Grand Staircase. This means it is no longer accessible during public tours. Souza, who also worked as a photographer for Reagan and Obama, shared his thoughts on Instagram.

“Why did this happen? Is it because President Obama continues to loom in the minds of the current residents?” he questioned. “Seems a bit petty to me,” he added, hinting at deeper reasons behind the move.

White House officials have confirmed that Obama’s portrait now sits atop a painting of former President Eisenhower. Recently, portraits of both George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush have also been repositioned. The new location for Obama’s portrait is not open to visitors.

The artwork, created by Robert McCurdy, was switched out in April. It has been replaced with a painting of Trump, depicting him raising his fist after surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania back in July 2024.

Typically, portraits of former presidents are relocated as new administrations come into power. However, it’s more common for the images of recent presidents to maintain prominent displays.

In a social media post, the White House noted, “A little new art at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.”

Souza compared the placements during Obama’s presidency, noting that portraits of Bush 43 and Clinton hung in the Grand Foyer. He also mentioned the past displays for other presidents like Reagan, Ford, and Kennedy, indicating a more significant historical context to the relocations.