There Ya Go
Have you seen the photo of the portrait of President Donald Trump that at one time graced the halls of the Colorado State Capitol?
If you’re like me, the first thing you notice is his baby-like, chubby cheeks. I picture a kid holding his breath in protest when I see it. Or a squirrel right after it has gathered nuts for the winter.
And Trump has taken umbrage, demanding the painting come down.
“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 said in his social media post.
I’m on Trump’s side on this one, although I can hardly believe he has the time, as a sitting president, to gripe about a portrait painting of himself in a state he didn’t even win. And I’m OK with him wanting it replaced, but why take the “purposefully distorted” angle? Why does Trump continuously think everyone is out to get him?
And if it’s true as purposely done to make him look silly just because he’s a Republican and you don’t like or respect him, then shame on you and grow up, Colorado.
I prefer to be on the backside of the camera. Translation, I hate getting my picture taken. I perish the though of how bad a painting or drawing of me would turn out. This doesn’t apply to caricatures, because we’re not supposed to look good in one of those. Caricatures are meant to highlight our facial flaws, of which I have many, including my stupid ears that stick out way too much. But a professionallydone portrait should perfectly reflect our appearance not make us look younger or older than we are (Trump’s portrait also didn’t include his wrinkles).
It’s a fake portrait. Clearly Trump’s ego was bludgeoned by the painting, and Trump loves a fight, so of course he would say something. But again, he’s the president of the United States of America. I get it, he has an ego, but to take the time out of a president’s schedule to post on social media about a painting of himself boggles my mind. I
would have time to do so, but the most powerful man in the world? Someone needs to give him something to do.
But I’m giving Trump the benefit of the doubt on this one.
The portrait of a president should look regal and grand, perhaps even a bit imposing. It should depict a powerful image, one that tells people you’re not someone who should be messed with. At the very least, it shouldn’t make people giggle.
The portrait in question does not look stately or presidential.
I know a lot of people don’t like how they look in photographs or, in this case, paintings. All we see of ourselves when someone takes our photo is our flaws — things about our face that we wish we could change.
While others tell me things like, “That’s a great photo of you,” that reassurance usually falls on my deaf, oversized ears.
