The presence of the image was first reported on Tuesday by Marek Wałkuski, the Washington correspondent for Polish Radio, who said the photograph had been hung inside the White House.
His social media post was later shared by Poland’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Radosław Sikorski, bringing the story to wider attention.
On Wednesday, the American weekly Newsweek confirmed the display, noting that the image had been placed in a vestibule connecting the West Wing to the residence, above a photograph of Trump with one of his grandchildren.
PBS correspondent Elizabeth Landers also shared the image on social media, describing the framed photograph as newly noticed in the area.
According to Newsweek, the prominent display has caused surprise and debate, particularly as fresh talks aimed at a possible peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia are expected this week.
A White House spokesperson told the magazine there was “nothing unusual” about showcasing photographs from public events involving the president, and noted that images from several of Trump’s meetings with world leaders are on display, although it is unclear whether any include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The symbolic significance of the photograph has been widely discussed.
John Foreman, a former UK defence attaché in Moscow and Kyiv, noted that Trump has frequently described the Alaska summit as a major success, and that it was therefore not surprising he chose to display the image.
Many analysts, however, viewed the meeting as having delivered little of substance, suggesting it ultimately benefited Putin more than Washington.
The Kremlin reacted positively, with Kirill Dmitriev, a senior envoy of the Russian president, describing the photograph as “worth a thousand words” in terms of its symbolic impact.
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Source: X/@Marekwalkuski/@sikorskiradek/@ElizLanders/PAP/Newsweek