DENVER—There were plenty of chuckles on the left after a prankster placed a portrait last week of Vladimir Putin near the blank space reserved for President Trump in the Colorado State Capitol, but Kevin Grantham wasn’t laughing.
The Colorado Senate President responded to the stunt by launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise the $10,000 needed to commission a portrait of Mr. Trump, which blew through its goal Thursday after just 32 hours.
The Republican Grantham, who pitched in the first $100, said Thursday that the campaign drew more than 200 donations with contributions from $5 to $500.
“[T]his effort was a victory for Colorado,” said Mr. Grantham. “Every President – regardless of their political party – deserves a portrait in the Colorado State Capitol. It was great to see this get done quickly, and we can’t wait to let Sarah Boardman get started on another beautiful piece of art.”
Ms. Boardman, an artist based in Colorado Springs, also painted the portraits of President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush displayed in the Hall of Portraits at the Colorado State Capitol.
Trump Portrait Fundraiser Meets Mark in Just 32 Hours: https://t.co/W2XgTid4Vg
— Colorado Senate GOP (@ColoSenGOP) August 2, 2018
This effort was grassroots and bipartisan, since a few notable #Democrats also made donations. We’re grateful to all who helped make this such a #yuge success. #copolitics #maga #TrumpPortrait #gop pic.twitter.com/Q5KOOSq2yU
Colorado Citizens for Culture, which oversees the portrait process, told news outlets last week that it had received no donations for the Trump portrait 18 months after he was sworn in, which also spurred Republican donors.
A few Democrats also chipped in, including Colorado state Rep. Dan Pabon, who gave $50.
“Vladimir Putin was NOT happy to receive the news,” joked GOP Senate staffer Sage Naumann on Twitter.
We just received word.
— Sage Naumann (@SageNaumann) August 2, 2018
Vladimir Putin was NOT happy to receive the news.
His portrait will never again be seen in the Colorado State Capitol, because we just FULLY FUNDED the commission of President @realDonaldTrump’s portrait in less than 2 days. #COleg #COpolitics pic.twitter.com/Etu7YdWc2b
The Putin portrait was quickly removed but not before someone snapped a photo, which went viral after Democratic state Sen. Steve Fenberg tweeted it.
As seen in the Colorado State Capitol Hall of Presidential Portraits today…#putinpotus pic.twitter.com/cW2cmqtmWM
— Steve Fenberg (@SteveFenberg) July 26, 2018
The campaign exceeded its goal by raising $10,669 as of late Thursday. Any additional funds are slated to be contributed to the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight, which helps pay for veterans to visit the National WWII Memorial and other memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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