A fundraising group led by Republican Kevin Grantham commissioned a portrait of Donald Trump by Sarah Boardman. The painting was unveiled in August 2019 and hung in Arizona’s rotunda gallery until the President complained about it in 2025. Republican politicians immediately demanded it be removed from the state’s capitol building. A painting that hung on the wall for 68 months was suddenly said to be “purposefully distorted” and part of a plot against the dear leader “never seen before.”

Colorado artist Boardman has a portfolio of fine works, including two former American Presidents. Her talent is obvious so it is not surprising the Republicans selected her to create an image of Trump. It is actually a quite flattering picture of a 73-year-old man

A 2017 paper by Austrian scientists noted that narcissists exhibit a truly inflated sense of self-worth. Researchers explored the fixation on physical appearance but concluded that narcissists experience emotional distress, including hypersensitivity and anxiety, rather than gratification when they see an image of themselves.

Commenting on an earlier IN-SIGHTS article, Lew Edwardson listed several symptoms of narcissism. People affected by this defect lack empathy, believe they are superior to all others, and have difficulty with interpersonal relationships. Grandiose Narcissists like Trump are loud, boastful, and demand uncritical attention. They brag about achievements, surround themselves with sycophants and reject people who fail to offer adequate praise.