It’s no secret that Donald Trump likes to surround himself with images of himself.
But recently, one particular White House portrait grabbed attention — and critics were quick to fire sharp criticism at the president.
The White House is traditionally filled with portraits and photographs, both of past presidents and key historical moments.
Each administration adds its own touches, displaying images that reflect diplomatic milestones, personal memories, and symbolic events.
And now, it has emerged that President Donald Trump has placed a framed photo of himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the corridor linking the West Wing to the executive residence. The photo was taken last August at the leaders’ summit in Anchorage, where the world’s major powers met amid intense media attention.
White House press corps members report that the photo of Trump with Putin now hangs above another framed picture of Trump with one of his grandchildren, a detail that has sparked widespread attention online.
PBS News correspondent Elizabeth Landers first reported the display back in January, posting a photo of its prominent placement on social media.
Mixed reactions
Reactions have been sharply divided.
Kirill Dmitriev, a senior Russian negotiator who has met several times with Trump adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, praised the move, saying the image “speaks for itself.”
On the other hand, critics have been vocal.
“Having an image of Putin hanging in the @WhiteHouse is grotesque. 👎” wrote one user on X.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., criticized the optics on social media, arguing the display “sends the wrong message” and risks elevating a foreign adversary in a tone-deaf way.
“Putting Putin above the American people and his own family,” the Virginia senator Mark Warner, said on social media. “Almost a little too on the nose.”
Across the Atlantic, Estonian lawmaker Marko Mihkelson warned that highlighting a moment of camaraderie with Putin could complicate efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine, where fighting continues.
“If it is true that the US president considers it appropriate to hang on the White House wall a photo of the greatest war criminal of the 21st century, then a just and sustainable peace will have to wait. Unfortunately,” Mihkelson shared.
When asked by The Guardian why this specific photo was chosen for display, a White House spokesperson said, “The Alaska Summit was a historic moment that helped bring Ukraine and Russia, whose brutal war was brought on by Joe Biden’s incompetence, closer to a deal.”
They added, “This is one of many accomplishments that President Trump chooses to feature at the White House, where photographs are rotated frequently to highlight Presidential travel.”
A historic summit
The Alaska meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between the U.S. and Russian presidents since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
The summit drew global attention, with cameras capturing multiple handshakes and extended exchanges.
Putin was greeted with a formal ceremony, and in one notable moment, rode in the U.S. presidential limousine — “The Beast” — with Trump rather than his own vehicle. Video footage showed the two seated together in the back of the car. Russian officials later described the meeting as a diplomatic milestone, and reports suggest the Kremlin plans to feature the summit in updated Russian history textbooks next year.
The relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has always been complicated and politically charged. While Trump has repeatedly spoken positively about Putin, calling him a “strong leader” and praising his political skills, there is no evidence that they are personal friends in the usual sense. Most interactions between them have been official or diplomatic, including summits and phone calls, rather than casual or social friendship.
Trump’s admiration for Putin has often sparked controversy in the U.S., especially given tensions between Russia and America over issues like Ukraine, election interference, and cybersecurity.
The photo’s addition comes amid other White House interior changes, including a recent renovation of the Palm Room.
While presidents typically display images commemorating major diplomatic events, this particular photo has drawn outsized attention.
Supporters see it as a sign of dialogue between global powers during a tense moment, while critics question the optics given the ongoing war. What do you think?
