Putin gifted Trump ‘beautiful portrait,’ Kremlin confirms – after president slammed Brit artist’s work ‘truly the worst’

PUTIN gifted Trump a picture of himself, the Kremlin confirmed, after the president slammed another portrait of himself by a Brit artist as “truly the worst”.

Zelensky claimed hours later that White House officials are under the influence of Russia, because Trump apparently regurgitated Kremlin propaganda.

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The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Putin commissioned an artist to paint Trump as a gift to the president – following reports of it by Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff, the US’s special envoy, identified the present on Saturday in an interview with Tucker Carlson – when he gushed over the “beautiful portrait” by “a leading Russian artist”.

Laying it on thick, Witkoff said Trump was “clearly touched” by the gesture from Putin – who he said was “super smart” and not “a bad guy”.

And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin had bestowed a “personal gift” to Trump – which was given to Witkoff in Moscow earlier this month.

He added that only Putin himself would disclose further details about the artwork.

The new portrait has not been seen publicly, but it was verified on the same day that Trump blasted another portrait hanging in the Colorado State Capitol building.

The president unleashed a scathing rant about the painting, and even claimed it was “purposefully distorted”.

He noted that Barack Obama’s, on the other hand, looked “wonderful”.

That painting has reportedly been chalked for swift removal after Trump’s damning review.

Following the news of the two paintings, Zelensky said in his nightly address that White House officials had been influenced by Russia.

He claimed that Trump had been parroting Kremlin propaganda.

About Russia’s claim that thousands of Ukrainian troops had been encircled in Kursk – repeated by Trump – Zelensky said: “That was a lie.”

He added: “I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information.

“Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.”

Putin’s offering was officially recognised as American and Russian negotiators returned to the table in Saudi Arabia.

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It’s signal of thawed tensions – and a degree of personal warmth – between the two leaders.

In the Tucker Carlson interview, Witkoff said the Russian leader had been “gracious” when they met in Moscow – in stark contrast to the fallout from the White House receiving Zelensky.

Putin reportedly said he had prayed for Trump after last summer’s assassination attempt.

Trump is yet to make any public comment on the goodwill gesture from the Kremlin.

But it would be hard-pressed to elicit worse reviews than the one by British artist Sarah Boardman which currently hangs in the Colorado State Capitol building.

During Trump’s inauguration, Boardman revealed the reason behind his unusual appearance in the picture.

She said Trump would eventually be replaced by a new president, so he needs to “look neutral” in the history books.

The artist said: “My portrait of President Trump has been called thoughtful, non-confrontational, not angry, not happy, not tweeting.

“In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another president on the wall who is only historical background and he needs to look neutral.”

She also said in an interview that she always takes personal feelings toward any subject out of her art – and she can “leave those emotions at the door”.