CNN showed a portrait of Trump given to him by Putin

The name of the artist who portrayed the US president at the request of the Russian dictator also became known.

The portrait that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin gave to US President Donald Trump through his special envoy Steve Witkoff was painted by Russian artist Nikas Safronov. CNN spoke with him and also showed the portrait itself.

A Russian artist depicted the American president with a raised fist on stage during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania after he was assassinated in July 2024.

“It was important for me to show the blood, the scar, and his bravery during the attempt on his life. He did not break or get scared, but raised his hand to show that he was one with America and would give back what it deserves,” the artist said.

Safronov said that “people came to him” and said they wanted him to draw Trump as he saw him. He said that at first he did not know who these visitors were, saying that as a famous artist he “has clients who do not go into details.” But, he added, he suspected that the customer was the Kremlin.

“When I started working on the portrait, I realized that it could bring our countries closer together, and I decided not to take money because I understood what this painting was for,” the artist explained.

Later, he said, Putin himself contacted him and said that the Trump portrait would be “an important step in improving Russia’s relations with the United States.”

It is noted that Safronov also painted portraits of other world leaders, including the late Pope Francis, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

The publication writes that this portrait of Trump, which Safronov claims was given to him by Putin, is similar to the one that currently hangs in the Grand Foyer of the White House. According to CNN, it appeared there after the official portrait of former US President Barack Obama was removed from there.

Putin’s gift to Trump: what is known

As UNIAN previously reported, Trump’s special envoy Witkoff told propaganda journalist Tucker Carlson in an interview that Putin gave the American leader his portrait “from a leading Russian artist,” and also said that he allegedly prayed for Trump when he was shot.

Later, the Russian dictator’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed this information to the BBC and called the painting a “personal gift .” However, he did not disclose other details, saying that only the dictator himself could tell about it.

(c)UNIAN 2025