President Donald Trump’s much hyped 60 Minutes interview with Leslie Stahl finally aired on Sunday night. The sit down was conducted in the Oval Office, where they discussed a number of topics from his Supreme Curt pick Brett Kavanaugh to Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, and he managed to only pull an “I’m president and you’re not” one time.
It seems as if there’s nothing Trump can say anymore to shock people, so instead, eagle-eyed viewers fixated on something else — an odd painting hanging on his office wall which features past Republican presidents Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Calvin Coolidge, both Bushes, and Warren G. Harding.
And sitting court at the center of the table is a beaming, noticeably slimmed-down Trump, with his ever-present class of Diet Coke sitting in front of him.
https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/1051627281687478272
The piece, titled “The Republican Club,” is actually that of artist Andy Thomas, who paints primarily cowboys and Native Americans as well as portraits of presidents. Thomas has done similar works of art in the past featuring former Democrat presidents playing pool and another of Republican presidents playing poker in 2008.
When he decided to do an update that added our current president, Thomas told the Daily Beast that he found Trump difficult to paint “because of his skin tone and smile,” but ultimately decided to make him the center of attention anyway.
The print was gifted to Trump by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), and he was apparently so chuffed that he personally called Thomas to gush about it.
Unbelievable! Received a gracious call from @POTUS about The Republican Club image… HE LIKED IT!
Thank you President Trump @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/UDTYH5UUlH— Andy Thomas Artist (@ArtStoryteller) August 21, 2018
Still, having the thing hanging there right in the Oval Office certainly speaks to Trump’s ego — I mean, does he even think it’s odd that he’s seated right next to Nixon?? — and people were quick to roast him on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1051629386519207937
They sell these paintings in DC; I have seen versions at a Georgetown kitsch gallery, including the same but of Democratic presidents. Still, amazing Trump can get world-class paintings on loan from federal museums in DC + this is what he picks to display. https://t.co/ogY9J8rPdE
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) October 15, 2018
Trump used to hang fake magazine covers of himself at his properties, is it a surprise that he's hung a painting of himself hanging out with other presidents in the White House?
— Harry Cheadle (@HCheadle) October 15, 2018
You know that painting of dogs playing poker? Here's the dumbed-down version pic.twitter.com/NE0v922j9t
— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) October 15, 2018
I prefer dogs playing poker. https://t.co/PaNlr4sGR0
— 🌻 Emily Brandwin 🌻 (@CIAspygirl) October 15, 2018
The artist admits he had trouble fitting Trump in. This explains the dramatic "Trump slim down".https://t.co/ufsCGzepeq
— Trump's gonna lose (@WWillsTexas) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/brfreed/status/1051626394889932801
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) October 15, 2018
"It's . . . it's one of those poker-playing dogs paintings but . . . but the dogs are . . . Republican presidents! Nixon's laughing! And Trump . . . Trump looks like he just farted!"
"Girl!" pic.twitter.com/mHsY0tRstB
— MyTwoWheats 🎸 🇮🇪 🇺🇦 (@MyTwoWheats) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/KrangTNelson/status/1051703049826304000
And Trump didn’t even notice that the painting actually apparently contains a hidden feminist message:
Even in Trump's thrift store trash painting, a woman is coming to end the bullshit when they aren't paying any attention pic.twitter.com/hoymeVOcFi
— Emily Colucci (@emilycolucci) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/DavidJollyFL/status/1051640042224058368
Trump ignoring subtext? Now I’ve heard everything.