Former President Donald Trump has again moved the official portrait of former President Barack Obama, placing it in a location off-limits to public visitors. The change was confirmed by CNN on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The portrait is now at the top of the Grand Staircase inside the White House, alongside the portraits of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
The area is part of the private residence and is restricted to the first family, U.S. Secret Service, and select staff — meaning it will no longer be visible to the thousands of guests who tour the building each year.
According to a source, the decision was made under Trump’s direction. A photograph obtained by CNN shows the Obama portrait in a corner at the stairwell landing. The space is not part of the public tour route, making the painting inaccessible to visitors.
Past Moves and Context
This is the second time Trump has relocated the portrait. In April, it was replaced in a public area with a photograph capturing the aftermath of the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler,