Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Exhibits Trump Portrait

A portrait of former President Donald Trump will hang in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. This is a photo of Pari Dukovic taken at the White House in 2019.

In the photo, Trump is seated in a chair behind the Oval Office fortitude desk, looking directly into the camera.

The photo was taken the day before Trump officially announced he would seek re-election and as the Republican was dealing with the COVID-19 (Chinese Communist virus) outbreak.

Flags representing the five branches of the U.S. military, a portrait of former President Andrew Jackson, and a portrait of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin can be seen in the background of the photo.

Neither Trump nor Dukovich responded to requests for comment on the photo.

A label next to the gallery portrait notes that Trump was elected president in 2016 by “tapping into American populist sentiment” to promote an “America First” agenda and deliver on major campaign promises such as reducing illegal immigration, lowering unemployment and appointing conservative judges.

The Smithsonian Museum’s galleries have been closed to in-person tours during the outbreak. But the museum plans to open the gallery to the public starting May 14, and all visitors must have a limited-time admission pass.

Admission is free.

The museum’s public relations director, Concetta Duncan, told the museum via email on April 1 that the photo, taken by New York-based Dukovich, is not a permanent portrait of Trump and that plans for a permanent portrait are still under discussion. There will be no unveiling event for the temporary portrait.