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Smithsonian Announces Trump's Presidential Portrait Will Be Unlike Any Other in the Museum's History

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As with multiple other facets of former President Donald Trump’s political career, there’s something different taking place with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery portraits of the former president and former first lady Melania Trump.

Instead of contributions coming solely from individual donors, as was the case with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, Trump’s political action committee will foot most of the bill for the portraits.

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas said the museum received a $650,000 donation from the Save America PAC, according to Business Insider.

The donation came in the form of a wire transfer last month.

The remaining balance of the $100,000 required came from an undisclosed donor, Thomas said.

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The PAC donation was “unprecedented,” according to Politico.

The money pays for the artists, framing, events, and other fees for the production of the portraits.

“Two artists have been commissioned, one for each portrait. The names will be released closer to the reveal of the paintings,” St. Thomas said, according to Business Insider.

“The creation of the portraits is underway. The timing of the artworks’ reveal is not determined yet,” she said.

Are you looking forward to seeing Trump's portrait?

The donation is listed as a “charitable contribution” for the PAC, Business Insider reported.

The Smithsonian has been using outside donations to pay for presidential portraits ever since it began having them commissioned, beginning with former President George H.W. Bush’s portrait, according to Politico.

Donors for the Obamas’ portraits included celebrities including director Steven Spielberg and musician John Legend.

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News of the donation launched a new round of Trump Derangement Syndrome among liberals on social media:

However, Adav Noti, the vice president and legal director of the Campaign Legal Center, said the donation was all above board, according to USA Today.

The Federal Election Commission would only be concerned if the donation funded a charity — in this case, the Smithsonian — that could be construed as a front for a political candidate.

If not, “that’d pretty much be the end of the inquiry,” he said.

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Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com.
Location
New York City
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Foreign Policy, Military & Defense Issues




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