Brit artist Sarah Boardman behind Trump's hated self-portrait says business is 'in danger'

The British artist responsible for an official portrait of the President branded "the worst" has said her business is in danger of collapsing.

The US Commander-in-Chief called out Sarah Boardman's now-removed official portrait - which was once on display in the Capitol - in a furious post on his Truth Social account last month, alleging it was "purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before". Mr Trump used the controversial painting as a bludgeon against Colorado Govenor Jared Polis, whom he described as "radical" and "extremely weak on " while calling for it to be removed from public view.

Now, after six years of receiving "overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback" while it was perched on a wall in the capitol building, Ms Boardman has said her fortunes have "changed for the worst". Rejecting the President's allegations that she "purposefully distorted" the painting, and must have "lost her talent as she got older", she said her business is "in danger of not recovering".

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Speaking to Sky News, Ms Boardman said she had completed the portrait during the President's first term under the watchful eye of the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee.

The committee had commissioned her to deliver the oil painting of Trump as part of the Denver State Capitol Gallery of Presidents following a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 (£7,742).

The fundraising campaign was launched by then Republican state senate minority leader Kevin Grantham, who remains a keen Trump supporter in 2025. During the entire process, including when she chose the reference photo and provided "works in progress" updates, Ms Boardman continued to receive the committee's approval.

The artist said after it was completed that she had strived for a neutral portrait, adding it was designed to fit into a "historical background" with other former Commanders-in-Chief. She said: "My portrait of President Trump has been called thoughtful, non-confrontational, not angry, not happy, not tweeting.

"In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another President on the wall who is only historical background, and he needs to look neutral.”

But the President's comments more than six years after the portrait was first hung on the wall have endangered the highly-regarded artist's career. She said that, while he is "entitled to comment freely", Mr Trump's attacks on social media are undoing decades of hard work.

She said: "President Trump is entitled to comment freely, as we all are, but the additional allegations that I 'purposefully distorted' the portrait, and that I 'must have lost my talent as I got older' are now directly and negatively impacting my business of over 41 years which now is in danger of not recovering."

The artist added: "I completed the portrait accurately, without 'purposeful distortion', political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, actual or implied. I fulfilled the task per my contract." Ms Boardman is not the only person involved in the transaction who was shocked by the President's comments, with Mr Grantham saying he was left "a little surprised" by his reaction.

He told TIME magazine after the controversy unfolded over Truth Social that people have commended the portrait over the last six years, adding he hadn't "heard any dissent".

He said: "It’s been six years since we put that portrait up, and we haven’t heard any dissent over it—in fact, quite the opposite...people have said they liked it."