A British-born artist claims Donald Trump's allegations that she distorted his portrait have put her business at risk.
Artist Sarah Boardman's artwork of the US president was on display in the rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver for more than five years until it was removed following Mr Trump's comments last month.
She remained silent in response to Mr Trump's comments, but later issued a statement saying: “I created the portrait accurately, without 'intentional distortion,' political bias or any attempt to caricature the subject, either in actual or implied terms.
“I have fulfilled my obligations under the contract.
“During the six years that the portrait was in the Rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol Building, I received nothing but positive feedback and reviews.
“The situation has worsened since President Trump’s comments.
“President Trump has the right to free expression, as do we all, but the additional accusations that I 'intentionally distorted' the image and that I 'must have lost my talent with age' now directly and negatively impact my business, which I have run for over 41 years, and which is now in jeopardy of its recovery.”
Last month, Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform that Boardman's portrait of former Democratic President Barack Obama was “wonderful” but that his own portrait was “really the worst.”
He also noted that Boardman, who created the portrait of Republican President George W. Bush, “must have lost her talent with age.”
Mr Trump added: “Nobody likes a bad photo or portrait of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, hung by the Governor along with other Presidents, was deliberately distorted to a degree that even I have probably never seen before.”
Colorado Republicans raised more than $10,000 through GoFundMe to commission the oil painting, and Boardman said the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee approved her “reference photo and subsequent 'work in progress.'”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
