Former President Barack Obama’s official White House portrait has reportedly been moved once again — this time to a location where most visitors will never see it. According to CNN, President Donald Trump recently ordered the painting to be placed at the Grand Staircase, a part of the White House that is heavily restricted and far from public view.
The portraits of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were moved there as well. “Multiple sources have said that the president is directly involved with nearly everything that is done to the aesthetic of the White House, big or small,” CNN reported.
The outlet also noted that the Grand Staircase area is typically off-limits to anyone except members of the first family, the Secret Service, and a select group of White House and executive residence staff. In other words, unless you have high-level clearance or happen to live there, you won’t be walking past Obama’s photorealistic Robert McCurdy portrait anytime soon.
Traditionally, the official portraits of recent presidents are prominently displayed in public areas of the White House, allowing visitors to view them during tours. The relocation of Obama’s portrait appears to break from that tradition.
This isn’t the first time the placement of Obama’s portrait has been shuffled during Trump’s presidency. Earlier this year, following the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, White House staff replaced the Obama painting in its previous location with a portrait of Trump.
At that point, according to reports, Obama’s portrait was moved to the Grand Foyer — still in public view, though no longer in its original spot. Now, with the move to the Grand Staircase, it’s essentially disappeared from public sight altogether.
Sources told CNN that Trump is known for personally approving changes to the White House’s interior and exterior aesthetic, whether large-scale renovations or subtle décor swaps. While the White House has not officially commented on this latest change, it appears to be another example of Trump’s hands-on approach to how the presidential residence is presented.
The Obama portrait, unveiled in 2022, was praised for its striking realism and clean white background, a hallmark of artist Robert McCurdy’s style. When it was first hung in the White House, it symbolized the continuation of a decades-old tradition honoring past presidents regardless of party affiliation.
That tradition has been strained during the Trump era. In 2020, NBC News reported that Trump had postponed the traditional White House unveiling ceremony for the Obama portraits, an event typically attended by both the current and former president.
With this latest move, critics argue that the decision to tuck the painting away feels more personal than procedural, while supporters say the president has the right to arrange the White House as he sees fit.
Whether the portrait will ever return to a more prominent location remains to be seen. For now, Obama’s likeness — along with those of both Bush presidents — will remain in a part of the White House few will ever pass through.