Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized a portrait of himself displayed in the Colorado Capitol, dubbing it "truly the worst" and "purposefully distorted." In a series of posts on his social media platform, HuffPost reported that he would "much prefer not having a picture than having this one."

Trump's dissatisfaction has prompted Colorado state officials to announce plans to take down the painting, which was created by artist Sarah Boardman and unveiled in 2019 following a successful fundraiser secured by Colorado Republicans, raising over $10,000 through Forbes. The removal was initiated at the request of Republican leaders in the Colorado Legislature, as noted by House Democrats.

In his posts, Trump expressed that while he found the portrait to be inaccurate, he appreciated the nearby portrait of former President Barack Obama by the same artist, stating, "He looks wonderful." He further criticized Boardman by claiming she "must have lost her talent as she got older," referencing her depiction of Obama in contrast to his own portrait.

The Colorado Building Advisory Committee, which oversees such artworks, indicated that the artwork would be replaced following Trump's remarks and the surge of criticism from his supporters who believe the portrayal does not reflect his image.

While Boardman has not publicly responded to Trump's criticism, she emphasized previously that her aim was to create an apolitical representation of her subjects. "A portrait is not a political statement, but a representation of a human being," she said in earlier interviews.

Meanwhile, Putin's recent gesture of gifting a portrait to Trump was also confirmed, adding another layer to this narrative of personal portrayals and political optics. The Hill reported that Trump's envoy received a "beautiful" portrait from the Russian leader, a touching moment underscored by an apparent friendship.

Trump's descent into criticism of the portrait is seen by many as reflective of the political climate, as he navigates a landscape where every image can be a statement, and every painting a contentious issue.

For more details on the unfolding story, visit India Times.