King Henry VIII and Donald Trump: An Unlikely Bond Through Portraiture

Centuries apart, two powerful figures—England’s infamous King Henry VIII and former U.S. President Donald Trump—share a surprising commonality: a deep fascination with curated portraits that shape their public image.

Henry VIII, the Tudor monarch known for his six marriages and ruthless reign, used paintings to project authority, masculinity, and divine right. His portraits, often exaggerated in stature and opulence, were early propaganda tools, reinforcing his dominance in a turbulent era.

Similarly, Trump has long embraced portraiture as a means of crafting his legacy. From official White House paintings to gold-plated memorabilia, his imagery emphasizes wealth, power, and control—mirroring the same calculated symbolism as Henry’s regal depictions.

Art historians note that both men understood the power of visual mythmaking, leveraging art to influence perception. While separated by time and title, their shared obsession with self-presentation reveals how leaders—then and now—use imagery to command attention and rewrite narratives.