Donald Trump's new official portrait released by White House, netizens say 'this can't be real'
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New portrait of Trump different from last
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The White House has released US President Donald Trump 's new official presidential portrait, with notable differences from his last. The video hared by the White House shows a person hanging Trump's new portrait on a wall, followed by a close-up of the photograph. 'NEW OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT JUST DROPPED,' the White House captioned the post.In the latest portrait, Trump can be seen wearing his signature red tie and his face is accentuated by deep shadowing. The President is looking straight with a serious expression on his face and the background is completely black, with lightning focussed on the center of his face.The portrait bears a striking resemblance to Trump's mugshot, taken at the Fulton County Jail during his bid for reelection after being charged with a racketeering conspiracy to overturn the state's election results. Several of those charges would eventually be dropped, and the case stalled after Trump won the 2024 election.In the portrait released earlier this year by his presidential transition office, Trump's face appeared more brightly lit, and he wore a blue tie. That earlier image featured the American flag in the background. In contrast, the newer version presents Trump against a black backdrop.Both portraits were taken by Chief White House Photographer Daniel Torok. Many speculate that it has been heavily photoshopped compared to the photo it is based on, according to The Irish Star.Many photography experts were quick to point out the heavy photoshopping applied to the new portrait, noting alterations that appear to conceal loose skin beneath the president's chin.Interestingly, the new image does show bags under Trump's eyes—details that are notably absent in the much more brightly lit official portrait released in January. As always, any fresh Trump-related content sparks a flurry of online reactions, and the unveiling of this portrait was no exception.This marks Trump's second official presidential portrait during his second term in office. The first debuted earlier this year. This time around, internet users turned to Grok—an AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI—to create alternative versions of the portrait. Grok, launched in November 2023, is built on a large language model and is known for its conversational tone, sarcastic humor, and direct connection to the social platform X (formerly Twitter).When prompted by users, Grok generated several satirical takes on Trump's likeness. One version portrayed him as a clown, while another reimagined the president as a marble statue. Embracing Trump's now-iconic association with tacos, Grok even added a plate of them into the frame. In perhaps the most over-the-top rendition, one user dubbed Trump the "Taco Lord," complete with taco-themed attire and a matching headpiece.Reactions ranged from amused to scathing. One user bluntly declared the portrait 'looks like sh**,' while another described it more colorfully: 'Looks like someone painted a haunted rotisserie chicken just moments before it asked to suspend the Constitution. I've seen less tension in a gas station Bigfoot drawing.' 'This can't be real. No one can get a picture on the nail on the first try,' one said.
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