George W. Bush’s Secret ‘Ugly’ Trump Portrait Exposed
Bush is secretly sitting on a “really ugly” portrait he painted of Donald Trump.
Former President George W. Bush is reportedly hiding an unflattering painting he created that depicts President Donald Trump.
Journalist Jacob Weisberg, author of the bestselling book Bushisms, which chronicled the president’s gaffes, is now “taking aim at Bush’s silence” for not doing more as the only living former Republican president in the Trump era in his newly released book Profiles in Cowardice.
He told The Intelligencer that Bush, who has taken up painting as a hobby in his post-presidential life, has kept the portrait a secret.
Weisberg said that Bush has “painted a really ugly picture of Trump, which he won’t show to anybody.”
Bush has painted a very ugly painting of Trump, an author claims.
Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS
“He’s expressing all of his feelings through painting, this kind of art therapy,” he elaborated. “He’s trying to talk about politics and express his feelings without stating them explicitly.”
Weisberg said the painting was similar to that of “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” where, he said, “truth is in the picture.”
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The author explained that the hidden portrait symbolizes how Bush has used his post-presidency to hide behind what he calls “a shibboleth which is that presidents have to completely remove themselves from ever commenting.”
Despite ideological differences, Bush appears to get along much better with his Democratic counterparts than he does with Trump.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/via REUTERS
He said other former presidents have spoken out about Trump’s policies on occasion, and that he believes “Bush could have done that, and he should have done that,” adding, “but he won’t say Trump’s name.”
Bush’s secret portrait comes as unflattering paintings have already become a sore subject for the self-obsessed president.
Bush has taken up painting in his post-presidency.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Last year, Trump took to Truth Social to rage at Colorado Gov. Jared Polis for hanging up what he viewed as a bad portrait of himself.
“Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before,” Trump complained.
“The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain,” Trump continued.

Donald Trump made his displeasure about the Colorado portrait known.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

The "purposefully distorted" picture in question.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
He added that the governor should be ashamed of himself for letting it happen.
The Trump White House later donated an approved portrait to the Colorado state capitol. The replacement portrait appears to be a painting of Trump’s official photograph, where he has a menacing facial expression.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog

ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT