December 17, 2024 03:31 PM UTC

Sorry Colorado Republicans, Donald Trump Doesn't Need Two Capitol Portraits

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• by: Colorado Pols

Here’s a recent email blast from Colorado Republican Party, ostensibly raising funds for a portrait of President re-elect Donald Trump to grace the presidential portrait hall in the rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol:

[W]e have a unique opportunity to honor this legacy in the Colorado State Capitol Rotunda. We aim to commission a hand-painted portrait of President Trump—a striking work of art that will stand as a testament to his transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to our nation.

Why are we pursuing this opportunity? As is the tradition in Colorado, all presidents have their portraits hung in the Capitol Rotunda… but only if their supporters pay for it.

We need your help now to make this vision a reality. We must raise an estimated $12,000 to fund this portrait and tribute to the 45th and 47th President of the United States. With your support, we can ensure that this portrait becomes a permanent part of Colorado’s history, inspiring future generations to fight for our freedoms and values…

So the first problem with this fundraising effort for a portrait of Donald Trump from the Colorado Republican Party is that the party has been more or less flat broke under the leadership of divisive chairman Dave “Move On Brandon” Williams, with much of the money the party has managed to raise in the last two eyars going directly into Williams’ pockets. Republican campaigns across the state were forced to go it alone without the support normally delivered by the state party in a coordinated campaign, while congressional candidates were supported by funds diverted to the Arizona GOP instead of entrusting them to Williams’ drifting operation. This dysfunction directly contributed to the Colorado GOP’s inability to capitalize on a national political climate that strongly favored Republicans in this November’s elections.

The second problem with this pitch is that, as readers should remember, there is already a portrait of Donald Trump in the Capitol rotunda, installed several years after Trump took office–after a prank in which a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly occupied the blank space in the gallery for Trump’s portrait. This embarrassment actually had the effect of kicking fundraising efforts for the Trump portrait into high gear, allowing for its eventual completion by the spring of 2019. Today’s fundraising pitch for a second portrait conveniently leaves out the existence of the first.

And as precedent, the other U.S. President who served two noncontiguous terms, Grover Cleveland, only has one portrait. So why would Trump get two?

Answer: he shouldn’t and most likely won’t. But donations to the Colorado Republican Party for the purpose will still deposit! We don’t see any disclaimer about refunding money if Trump’s second portrait isn’t needed or otherwise doesn’t happen. Without even telling the party faithful that Trump already has a portrait in the Colorado Capitol, this appears to be an even more audacious than usual attempt to fleece the base using Trump’s literal likeness.

Our understanding is that Trump is at least supposed to get a cut.