Critics quickly took to Instagram to express their unease. One person commented, “Doesn’t look like it fits there,” while others questioned the choice altogether. “Is this a joke?” one asked, while another described the scene as having “super North Korea vibes.”
The backlash stemmed largely from the violent context behind the painting’s subject. The event in question took place in July 2024, when Trump was shot at a campaign rally. While addressing the crowd, he was struck by a bullet that grazed his right ear. The shooter and one attendee were killed, and two others were injured before Secret Service agents escorted Trump from the stage.
Trump later wrote on Truth Social about the incident, describing the moment he felt the bullet tear through the skin. “Much bleeding took place,” he noted. “I realized then what was happening.” Video of the incident showed him pausing as gunfire rang out, reaching for his ear, and then raising his fist in defiance as he was rushed offstage.
Federal investigators confirmed the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, acted alone, though they left open the possibility of broader involvement. The FBI launched a full investigation, treating the incident as an assassination attempt and potential act of domestic terrorism. They scoured Crooks’s home and car, uncovering items that were removed and examined by bomb technicians. His phone and electronic devices were also retrieved for analysis, and nearly 100 interviews were conducted with those present at the event.
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Investigators have yet to determine a motive, but they urged the public to continue submitting digital evidence. Victim services were also dispatched to assist those affected.
The incident sparked renewed national interest in the security of public officials and the vulnerability of American leaders. In a recent interview aboard Air Force One, Trump reflected on both the attempt on his life and historical parallels — including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The interview, conducted by Clay Travis of OutKick, marked a rare crossover between sports media and the presidential press pool. During their conversation, Trump commented on the release of long-sealed JFK assassination records. Asked if he believed Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, Trump replied, “I do. And I always felt that, but, of course, was he helped.” He added that the documents, though not as revealing as some hoped, “might be a good thing.”
Following the attack in Pennsylvania, Trump also referenced what he believed were unusual digital behaviors tied to the shooter, and pointed to a previously unreported incident in Florida. Still, he maintained that the FBI had been forthright in their response, suggesting that while answers might never be clear, he didn’t suspect anything overtly sinister from federal agencies.
Meanwhile, the National Archives recently released tens of thousands of pages related to JFK’s assassination, including many never-before-seen documents. While public interest in those files remains high, analysts like Larry J. Sabato emphasized that understanding their full significance could take years.
The decision to prominently feature Trump’s post-assassination image in the White House, especially at the expense of Obama’s placement, has amplified the conversation about how modern presidential history is depicted — and who gets to define the narrative.
