This Painting Broke Donald Trump. Let’s Take A Look.

Summary

Bulwark Takes: "This Painting Broke Donald Trump. Let’s Take A Look" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: March 24, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosted by The Bulwark team members Sam and John, the discussion centers around a controversial painting of former President Donald Trump displayed at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. The episode delves into the public's reaction, the artist's portrayal, political implications, and broader commentary on presidential representations in art.

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1. The Controversial Painting and Trump's Reaction

The episode opens with Sam presenting the main topic: a distorted painting of Donald Trump unveiled at the Colorado State Capitol. This piece, commissioned by Governor Jared Polis, has sparked significant backlash, including criticism from Trump himself.

• Sam [00:30]: "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves. But the one in Colorado... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I perhaps have never seen before."

Trump's displeasure stems from the exaggerated features in the painting, which many, including Sam, find unflattering and poorly executed.

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2. Public and Political Backlash

The painting has not only upset Trump but also ignited anger among Colorado residents. Sam emphasizes that the governor is perceived as responding to the populace's discontent rather than addressing it personally.

• Sam [00:24]: "Many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it."

Governor Jared Polis faces criticism for his handling of the situation, with Sam attributing broader frustrations to Polis's perceived weakness on crime and governance.

• Sam [00:40]: "Jared should be ashamed of himself."

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3. Artistic Analysis of the Painting

John and Sam engage in a detailed critique of the painting's artistic merits—or lack thereof. They discuss the distortion of Trump's features, particularly focusing on his jowls and mouth, which many find exaggerated and unflattering.

• Sam [02:05]: "It's a hideous painting of Trump... it looks like he's got marbles in his mouth."

• John [02:21]: "No, it's growing on me. When I first saw it... it blends into the collar, which is like, you know, it's all thick."

Despite the initial negativity, both hosts acknowledge that prolonged viewing makes the painting somewhat more palatable, though they remain critical overall.

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4. Governor Jared Polis's Response

Governor Polis's official statement addressed the controversy with a focus on improving the visitor experience at the Capitol. However, Sam suggests that Polis's response lacks substance and fails to address the core issues raised by the public.

• Sam [05:55]: "Mr. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork."

Sam criticizes the governor for not taking decisive action to rectify the situation, implying that the response was merely perfunctory.

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5. Broader Implications and Comparisons

Transitioning from the main topic, Sam and John compare the Trump painting's reception to other poor representations in public art. They cite examples of less favorable sculptures and portraits of sports figures like Dwyane Wade and Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting a trend of contentious public art.

• Sam [08:25]: "Poor Dwyane Wade. Can you imagine being him when they reveal this?"

This segment underscores the challenges and controversies surrounding public art and its subjects, emphasizing the fine line between artistic expression and public expectation.

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6. Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

Sam shares personal experiences related to his time working at the governor's office, providing context to his insights and reinforcing his connection to the Capitol's art and administrative processes.

• Sam [07:06]: "My first job was I read the governor's mail. I read the governor's mail in the bowels of the Capitol."

These anecdotes add depth to the discussion, illustrating Sam's long-standing relationship with Colorado's political and cultural landscape.

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with Sam and John reiterating their skepticism about the quality and reception of the Trump painting. They express doubt that it is the "worst portrait out there" but acknowledge that it stands out negatively among public artworks.

• Sam [07:43]: "I don't think this is nearly the worst portrait out there."

Their final thoughts emphasize the ongoing debate about artistic representation of public figures and the responsibilities of both artists and political leaders in such endeavors.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sam [00:30]: "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves."
• Sam [02:05]: "It's a hideous painting of Trump... it looks like he's got marbles in his mouth."
• John [02:21]: "No, it's growing on me. When I first saw it... it blends into the collar."
• Sam [05:55]: "Mr. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork."
• Sam [08:25]: "Poor Dwyane Wade. Can you imagine being him when they reveal this?"
• Sam [07:06]: "My first job was I read the governor's mail. I read the governor's mail in the bowels of the Capitol."
• Sam [07:43]: "I don't think this is nearly the worst portrait out there."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a critical examination of how public art can become a focal point for political and personal grievances. Through Sam and John's engaging discussion, listeners gain insight into the complexities of artistic representation, public perception, and political accountability.

Transcript

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[Sam]

All right, guys, a lot of dark, serious news out there today. So when you get one goofy item, you know, me and Sam gotta get together and laugh about it. Mr. Trump is mad and he's bleeding again. And this is this time, it is about a bad painting of him that is up in the capitol in Denver, Colorado, where I used to work. More on that in a minute, but here's the bleed. Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves. But the one in Colorado, in the state capitol, put up by the governor, along with all the other presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I perhaps have never seen before. Whew. That's quite the sentence. All right, let's keep going. The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would prefer, much prefer, not having a picture. Da, da, da. Many people from Colorado have called and written to complain. In fact, they are actually angry about it. I'm speaking on their behalf to the radical left Governor Jared Polis, who is extremely weak on crime, in particular with respect to Trenda Aragua, which practically took over Aurora. Jared should be ashamed of himself. Take it down. I love how he's speaking on behalf of the people of Colorado that are angry, not himself. He's like, it's not me. It's not me. That's just a narcissist that cares deeply about this one random painting. It's the people of Colorado. They deserve better.

[John]

I know there's a lot of footage out there of what appears to be a 34,000 person rallying then for AOC and Bernie. But in fact, those people had come out to protest.

[Sam]

Protest the painting.

[John]

Take it down. Take it down.

[Sam]

I mean, in fairness, do we have to hand it to him? It's a hideous painting of Trump, and God love the artist if she did do it on purpose. I mean, he's got these jowls. It looks like he's Got marbles in his mouth.

[John]

No, it's growing on me. When I first saw it, I said, wow. The sort of cheeks blend into the neck and it's just. And it blends into the collar, which is like, you know, it's all thick.

[Sam]

His coloring is a little more human, though, than in real life. It's orangey. In some ways, the painting is actually nice. Like, his hair and skin color as much like exists in the natural world, unlike his. Unlike the color.

[John]

What is it about this painting that is off? Because now that I'm looking at it, it's not like I first thought it was ridiculous. Now it's.

[Sam]

Marble. It's kind of a marble mouth. Kind of.

[John]

I don't know. Maybe it's not so bad.

[Sam]

He doesn't.

[John]

He doesn't look like him as much.

[Sam]

The more I look at it, the better it looks, actually.

[John]

Yeah. Yeah, right? Am I right?

[Sam]

It's growing on me a little bit as I stare, as I hear the hair is fine.

[John]

The hair looks good. It's.

[Sam]

I don't know, maybe I feel like these guys. Do you ever see the videos from the guy that's the do who's punching?

[John]

No.

[Sam]

I love these guys. They. They review couples and they decide which cup. Which person in the. In the picture is better looking. And they. Do you see this often when, like, ooh, I think it's her. But then, like, the more I look, actually maybe him, you know, And I'm feeling that way about this trumpet. This is maybe this big painting is maybe handsomer than he is in real life.

[John]

Yeah, he doesn't look as bad as he thinks. Obviously, he's got an issue. First of all, how do you think this even got on his fucking radar? Like, what the hell? Who showed him this picture? How did he.

[Sam]

Someone at the golf course. Some rich guy from Colorado. Philly, ancient, said, Mr. President, Phil ancient says golfing.

[John]

You gotta look at the thing in Denver.

[Sam]

I think we should probably pull up here. What Trump does. Like, what Trump thinks is a good portrait of himself. Let's pull up here on screen here is this horrifying image of Trump in a kind of like a white sweater, a white V neck sweater with white pants. I love that he's at the white party in Nantucket, and it's a very dramatic sky behind him. And this painting is, I think, the white party up in Mar a Lago, right?

[John]

Yeah, it's the white party, not Nantucket.

[Sam]

Yeah. Okay. There you go. The Hamptons. I don't get invited to these fancy fucking parties. I'm a regular American. The visionary is what it's called. Okay, so that's what he wants. And that, obviously is a very handsome photo. It also doesn't resemble Trump, though. Really?

[John]

No, no. I think he needs to find better uses of his time than to critique the portraits that are framed of him. I did note that he put up. After he bleeded this one, he put up two pictures of himself that he likes, including the one that's, like, so much light on his face and he looks menacing and all that stuff.

[Sam]

So I like. I like some of the fun facts here. In the article that the Telegraph wrote. Shout out to the Telegraph. One was John Cook, a Republican state senator. When the. When the painting was unveiled, he said that the piece showed the strength of the American spirit. I love this, that these. This is like a backfire of somebody just sucking up to Trump. Yeah, that guy. Like, he's like. I think it's like this is just a free swing to suck up to Mr. Trump. I'm gonna humiliate myself by talking as ostentatiously as possible about how great this painting is. And then, oh, no. Trump hates the aura.

[John]

That's the thing they say now. The aura.

[Sam]

The aura.

[John]

The aura is so powerful. This guy. What's his name? John Cook. What was his Name?

[Sam]

Ian Cook. Mr. Cook, a state senator.

[John]

He's in real trouble now. Mr. Trump does not like the fact that he praised that portrait. He's gonna have to come up with a sentence explaining why he said it was the strength of the American spirit and figure out a way to get back in Mr. Trump's good graces.

[Sam]

Friend of the pod, Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado, who's not radical left, actually is maybe one of the most. It might be the most centrist governor in America, honestly. He provided this statement. Excuse me. A spokesperson did. Mr. Polis was surprised to learn the President of the United States is an aficionado of our Colorado State Capitol and its artwork. We appreciate the president and everyone's interest in our Capitol building and are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience. I've got some notes for you, Jared. There's too much Western art. Like, it's like, there's a lot of buffaloes.

[John]

It's Western, and.

[Sam]

And. And cowboys and what he wants. Well, but, I mean, you know, Denver has a lot of. Has a lot of culture besides cowboy culture. Yeah, we've Jokic. Let's put some fucking Jokic paintings.

[John]

Get a real portrait of him. Or statue.

[Sam]

Yeah, replace. Replace Trump with Jokic. That's something I'm for. But I am. I'm. I'm an actual aficionado of the art at the Colorado capital. Because, Sam, I don't know if you know this about me. My first job was I read the governor's mail. I read the governor's mail in the bowels of the Capitol.

[John]

Wow.

[Sam]

If you. Yeah. If you sent a letter to Governor Bill Owens, I was the one that decided whether he got to look at it or not. Very few got through me. Usually I just replied to you saying, thank you, madam, or sir. We appreciated your note. I got out the auto pen. Auto pens are very controversial. Oh, yeah. I was the auto pen. Now you're interested. I. It was back then. We're getting old back then. It was one of these fancy auto pens or it was like. It was like a huge machine. And I pedaled. I pressed the pedal, and then the other pen came out. And it was very important. I felt very important. Age 17.

[John]

How old are you?

[Sam]

At that time? I think I was. What was that?

[John]

So he wanted how old this auto pen experience is?

[Sam]

So he wanted 98. So I was probably 18. Okay, 17.

[John]

So it's like, what, 20?

[Sam]

Yeah, it was like 99. Yeah. Yeah. 25 years ago. I was a child. Yeah. Everybody asked me where my dad was when I walked into the Capitol. And I was like, no, I'm just a fucking super nerd that is volunteering for the Governor. I have no parents here. There are no parents around. I was set when I was 17. I looked like I was 12. I was a late bloomer. Anyway. All right, I want to close with this. I don't think this is nearly the worst portrait out there. No, not either. There are two sports nominees that come to mind for me. Which one?

[John]

Let's go. D. Wade. I mean, D. Wade is, like, objectively the worst sculpture I've ever seen.

[Sam]

Poor Dwyane Wade. Can you imagine being him when they reveal this?

[John]

He's there in the unveiling.

[Sam]

I know. And you have to be like, thank you.

[John]

Nailed it.

[Sam]

Ronaldo is the other famous one. I think Ronaldo is the most egregious because with love to Dwayne Wade. Handsome man. Ronaldo is beautiful. And so if you're going to do a portrait or a sculpture rather of Ronaldo, it is incumbent upon you to make him look like a. Like a Greek God. Like a Spanish conquistador.

[John]

Well, Portuguese, but yes.

[Sam]

Portuguese Conquistador. Do they have a different word for conquistador in Portuguese?

[John]

Probably, just not Spanish.

[Sam]

And instead they made him kind of look.

[John]

He looked ridiculous. Scary. Is it anywhere? What's that? There's a famous Jesus one too. Where it's like. Is that just water paint? Look like Jesus. Like, come on, give Jesus a little bit of like, you know, form here. It's just.

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