This Bizarre Portrait of Trump Painted in Colonial Era-Garb Evokes Unintended Comparisons to Benedict Arnold
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The Arizona Republican Party tweeted a painting of Donald Trump that was entirely meant to glorify the president. The reception online, however, has been less than spectacular.
Weeks after the Arizona GOP called on people to lay down their lives for Trump’s fight against his 2020 election defeat, the organization tweeted a very romanticized picture of Trump in colonial-era war garb and surrounded by patriotic imagery.
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 28, 2020
Several people saw the Trump portrait in the same light as the notorious Revolutionary War traitor: Benedict Arnold.
Nice of them to do a painting of Benedict Arnold!! https://t.co/rcP5415qil
— Leif Skodnick (@LeifSkodnick) December 29, 2020
The first chapter of the 2,500-page Proof trilogy—written in the summer of 2018—framed Trump as a modern-day Benedict Arnold. Now here we are, two and a half years later, three weeks before the end of the Trump presidency, and “Benedict Arnold” is trending for this very reason. https://t.co/ePuvsMUYgB
— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) December 29, 2020
Benedict Donald. #GotEm https://t.co/yth9UY3Jkd
— HambyWearsAMask (@HambySanDiego) December 29, 2020
The real title of the “Benedict Arnold” painting is “1776.” It was created by Lyudmila Tomova, who wrote: “This painting is dedicated to the patriot resistance fighting for our liberty and the republic.” https://t.co/TIpwlTZNgE https://t.co/Zt38cBZoJg
— Dan Evon (@danieljevon) December 29, 2020
The only Revolutionary War figure you can compare him to is Benedict Arnold, and even that’s unfair because at least that traitor actually served in the military. https://t.co/Wdkhgebl7J
— Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) December 29, 2020
From the Arizona Racism Party. https://t.co/ErOIfbIu0e pic.twitter.com/6r0cf5cTbe
— James Mielke (@LimitedRunJames) December 29, 2020
A lot more reactions to the painting came from people who are far from impressed by their latest attempt at the deification of Trump:
That’s an odd way to depict a draft-dodging coward subservient to a hostile foreign leader who thinks actual US military heroes are babies, suckers and losers. https://t.co/Hcvbc8niyK
— Mike Elgan (@MikeElgan) December 29, 2020
Comical? Or sinister? This stuff is always comical until it — isn’t. https://t.co/QJzLHmN9kN
— Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) December 29, 2020
He’d accidentally shoot himself and he’s not strong enough to carry the flag. It takes him two hands to raise a glass of water. https://t.co/EkAOCctLco
— Wajahat “Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic” Ali (@WajahatAli) December 29, 2020
/wearing a turtleneck under a tweed blazer and stroking my chin thoughtfully as I examine this work of art from every angle “LOL come on.” https://t.co/XjdcTbPFBc
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) December 29, 2020
The idea that Trump would fight for his country is laughable https://t.co/v5kBzX0cqH
— Mark Joyella ?️? (@standupkid) December 29, 2020
(Not a cult) https://t.co/dGp0dLnSmx
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) December 29, 2020
Siri- Show me what it looks like when a political party is now a radical cult. https://t.co/iddvAVK5AH
— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) December 29, 2020
