Trump repositions Obama portrait to secluded stairwell

US President Donald Trump has directed that the official portrait of former President Barack Obama, painted by Robert McCurdy, be removed from the prominent vestibule of the Executive Residence and relocated to a more obscure area — specifically, the upper landing of the Grand Staircase, which is inaccessible to most White House visitors. This area is restricted to members of the First Family, Secret Service personnel, and a small inner circle of staff.

Portraits of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were moved to the same stairwell as well.

Under established White House etiquette, recent presidents’ portraits are traditionally displayed prominently in the Foyer to be visible during official events and tours.

However, this relocation marks the second time Obama’s portrait has been demoted in visibility — earlier this year it was replaced by a painting commemorating Trump’s survival of an alleged assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

This move is being interpreted as a deliberate slight or a manifestation of existing political tensions between Trump and Obama. Trump had previously levelled accusations of treason against Obama and members of his administration regarding the 2016 election, which Obama’s office denounced as “outrageous,” “strange,” and a weak.