Although Trump’s official presidential portrait has not yet been released, insiders say the former president personally selected this moment from the July 2024 rally to occupy a position of honor in the White House.
The dramatic painting is reportedly inspired by images taken by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci and New York Times photographer Doug Mills during the rally, moments after a gunman opened fire, injuring the former president and killing one bystander.
Trump, despite bleeding from his ear, raised his fist—a moment that quickly went viral and was widely circulated across media and campaign materials.
History, Funding, and Artistic Tradition
According to former White House Curator Betty Monkman, the tradition of official presidential portraits dates back to the 1960s, initiated under First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. These portraits are typically funded by the White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is currently working on Trump and First Lady Melania’s official portraits, which are separate from those displayed in the White House.
