Donald Trump has once again rearranged the artwork inside the White House, making major changes to where certain historical paintings are displayed.
According to multiple sources, the current administration has moved portraits of several former presidents from well-trafficked areas to a more hidden part of the building. These changes affect the portraits of Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush, which have been taken down from their previous public spots and placed in a private hallway that most visitors cannot access.
The most obvious change involves the portrait of former President Barack Obama. The painting, which features the 44th president against a plain white background, was reportedly moved from its original spot on the Grand Staircase. The Grand Staircase is one of the most heavily used areas in the White House, with over a million visitors passing through it each year, making it a very public and prestigious location for such artwork.
According to TMZ, the portrait’s new home is a private hallway, an area that is off-limits to public tours and general visitors. Only a small group of people, including the First Family, a few White House staff members, and Secret Service agents, are allowed in this space. The difference between the two locations, one seen by countless citizens and the other restricted to a handful of people, is striking.
Trump moves Obama’s portrait to a place no one can see
This is not the first time portraits have been moved under Trump’s direction. One of Barack Obama’s portraits was previously replaced with a portrait of Donald Trump. The Trump portrait reportedly shows the aftermath of a shooting that happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, in April. The recent changes also impact other former presidents. The portraits of both George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, have also been taken down from their prominent positions and placed in the same private hallway as Barack Obama’s portrait.
The reason behind these major changes to the artwork is unclear. The relationship between President Trump and his predecessors, especially Barack Obama, has been tense. The two have frequently clashed, and President Trump has in the past made baseless claims that Obama was involved in a treasonous plot to overthrow the government. Because of this, moving the portraits fits into a larger pattern of political and personal hostility. The White House has not yet provided any explanation for these decisions.
Trump directed staff to move the Obama portrait to the top of the Grand Staircase, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, where it will now be out of view from thousands of visitors who tour the White House each day.
— robert neale (@Neale10Rg) August 11, 2025
Only portraits of 'dear leader' are allowed
Looking back, this is not the first time President Trump has made moves like this. During his first term, he reportedly relocated portraits of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. The current actions, which include moving the Bushes’ portraits for a second time, suggest a repeated preference for replacing older displays with newer ones. This behavior highlights a recurring theme in how the administration handles the visual representation of presidential history inside the White House.
The portrait of President Joe Biden has not yet been finished, but given these past actions, it is unlikely to be given a place of honor once it is completed. The new hallway where these historical paintings are now displayed is a quiet, out-of-the-way area, a sharp contrast to the busy, public spaces they once occupied.
