President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama next week for the unveiling of their official White House portraits.
(Bloomberg) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama next week for the unveiling of their official White House portraits.
The Sept. 7 ceremony, which the White House announced Wednesday, is typically an occasion for a president to honor his immediate predecessor. But Obama’s unveiling did not occur during Donald Trump’s presidency, given the animus between the two men.
The event was further delayed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is due to be held indoors in the East Room of the White House. The White House did not name the artists who painted the portraits.
Obama hosted President George W. Bush for his portrait unveiling in May 2012, and Bush had former President Bill Clinton at the White House for his unveiling in June 2004.
Portraits of former presidents hang on the walls of ceremonial areas of the White House, including the East Room, State Dining Room and Cross Hall.
The official White House portraits of presidents and first ladies are different from those on display at the National Portrait Gallery. The Obamas’ portraits there were unveiled in 2018 and have been on tour since last year at museums in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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