Donald Trump’s new portrait breaks with a tradition

The White House in Washington has revealed a new portrait of Donald Trump. It replaces an older recording that still comes from the inauguration of the President in January 2025. The new portrait makes a rather dark impression. Trump wears a red tie to the blue suit, the background is dark, his gaze is strict and determined. The effect is underlined by a sharp contrast and the shadows in the photo.

The difference to the previous photo is considerable. It was clearly brighter, Trump was wearing a blue tie in front of the US flag. The portrait from Trump’s first term was completely composed. It showed the president with a wide grin, also with a blue tie in front of a star banner.

According to the “New York Times”, the lack of the American flag on the new recording means a break with the latest tradition. Since Gerald Fords photo portrait in 1974, a flag has always been seen as a background. Trump always wears a pin on the lapel.

The most striking, however, is the fact that all references to the White House were missing in the new photo, the art professor Paul Staiti told the newspaper. “This is nothing unusual. And of course it makes it more personal.” The further meaning of the new setting can only be speculated.

How often presidents exchanged their photo portraits during an term is not known. From Barack Obama you know that he had a fresh picture on the second term.

In contrast to the painted portraits, which are made by the President during an term, photos are easier and, above all, faster. They are virtually intended for daily use. They hang in government buildings and in messages worldwide. With the photo, the United States also greets arrivals at all border crossings.