In March, Vladimir Putin sent a portrait of the former president to Donald Trump, delivered by Trump Trump Trump, Steve Witkoff, and has now been revealed.
At the time, the painting itself was described as a “beautiful portrait” of “a leading Russian artist” and it was wrapped until April 22.
Nikas Safronov, one of Russia’s most famous portrait painters, has given CNN an exclusive review of the Kremlin-commissioned artwork.
The dramatic oil painting depicts Trump on the stage of the Housekeeper Rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024, but lifts his fists in a united performance after the assassination attempt.
“I want to capture the blood, the scars and his heroism,” Safronov explained. “He didn’t break down or contract; he raised his arms to show that he was American and would bring back what he deserved.”
Safronov painted dozens of global figures – from Pope Francis to Narendra Modi and Kim Jong Un, who was initially asking for an unnamed tourist to come to contact him.
He suspected that they represented the Kremlin and chose to waive his fees once they realized the diplomatic intention of the gesture.
Later, Putin himself confirmed that the artwork was intended to help mend the ties between Russia and the United States.
Now, the portrait hangs in the halls of the White House, replacing the official portrait of Barack Obama.
