MAGA influencer Benny Johnson sparked controversy on Tuesday by enthusiastically praising President Donald Trump for moving the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to a less prominent location within the White House. The 38-year-old YouTuber, known for his fervent support of Trump, shared a selfie video on social media platform X that has since been widely criticized as "cringe as fuck" and "embarrassing" by online detractors.
Johnson's Video Showcases Portrait Relocation
In the video, Johnson directly addresses the camera, stating, "Funniest thing what Trump has done with the Barack Obama portrait, check this out." He then switches to his rear camera, panning around the White House Grand Foyer where Obama's portrait was previously displayed prominently until last year. Johnson proceeds to track up the Grand Staircase to reveal the portrait's new, seemingly hidden location away from the daily flow of thousands of White House visitors.
The influencer captioned the post with, "Y'all have to see what Trump has done with the Obama portrait at the White House." Johnson was attending St. Patrick's Day festivities at the executive mansion with his wife, documenting their experience in separate videos that showed them enjoying an "Irish spread" and toasting with glasses of Guinness beer.
Critics Slam Johnson for 'High School Drama'
The response to Johnson's video was swift and largely negative, with many social media users accusing him of engaging in trivial political theatrics. Critics labeled him "a little suck up" for celebrating the portrait's relocation and dismissed the entire episode as "high school drama." One user pointed out the irony of Trump, at 79 years old, "acting like a petulant child" by continuing to taunt his predecessor.
Multiple commenters expressed frustration that such petty matters were receiving attention amid more pressing national concerns. "How old are you, Bro? This administration is crumbling right before your eyes and this the dumb shit you choose to report?" wrote one critic. Another added, "Motherfuckers spend more time acting like childish babies than running a country, gas is $5 a gallon, no one gives a fuck about portraits."
Broader Context of Presidential Portraits
This incident is not isolated within the current administration's approach to presidential symbolism. Trump has also replaced former President Joe Biden's official portrait with a photograph of an autopen, mocking Biden's reported use of the automated signing device during his tenure. Additionally, the White House has installed a series of plaques along its walls that contain insulting references to previous presidents.
Johnson's background adds another layer to the controversy. The influencer was fired from BuzzFeed in 2014 after an internal review identified at least 40 instances of plagiarism in his work. Last year, he aligned with former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, arguing that the United States should refrain from interfering in foreign nations' affairs. Despite this position, Johnson previously posed with his wife before a painting that depicted Trump as a heroic figure, even as the president's recently launched war with Iran has resulted in significant casualties including 13 U.S. military personnel and over 1,400 Iranians, among them dozens of innocent school children.
Social Media Backlash Intensifies
The online criticism extended beyond Johnson to address Trump's ongoing fixation with his predecessor. "Obama stays rent free in Trump's head," remarked one social media user, capturing a common sentiment among detractors. Others made more pointed comparisons between the two presidents, with one commenter asserting, "Obama will always be known as one of the best presidents America ever had and Trump will always be known as the worst president we ever had."
Many responses emphasized the perceived immaturity of the portrait relocation controversy. "Only immature children care about this dumb petty shit. Grow up loser," wrote one critic, while another simply questioned, "What's funny? Did I miss something?" The consensus among critics suggests that Johnson's celebration of what they view as trivial political point-scoring has backfired, drawing more attention to the pettiness of the gesture than to any substantive political achievement.
