The portrait of former President Barack Obama has been moved from the White House entryway to a location where visitors cannot see it. People familiar with the change said President Donald Trump told staff to place it at the top of the Grand Staircase, which is not part of public tours.

The painting by Robert McCurdy had been in a spot where thousands of visitors would see it during tours. Now it sits near the private living quarters, only seen by the first family, certain staff, and security. Portraits of George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush were also moved there.

Obama’s office called that “outrageous,” “bizarre,” and “a weak attempt at distraction.” Not long after, Attorney General Pamela Bondi had prosecutors bring a grand jury together to look into claims that Obama officials made up intelligence about Russian interference.

Trump’s relationship with the Bush family has also been rocky. The late George H. W. Bush once called him a “blowhard” and voted for Hillary Clinton.

George W. Bush, called a “failed and uninspiring” president by Trump, went to Trump’s 2025 inauguration but skipped the luncheon after the ceremony.

Trump has been hands-on with White House décor before. In his first term, he replaced portraits of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in the Grand Foyer with portraits of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Official portraits of presidents have been a tradition since the early 1960s, funded by the White House Historical Association. Unveiling events usually have the current and former presidents together as a gesture of goodwill.