Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie had a very expensive official portrait unveiled on Monday, and the internet has a few ideas of what they think it should have depicted instead.
The portrait—which cost $85,000 in taxpayer funds—shows the former governor looking calm and collected while he holds a piece of paper on a podium. The large cost was more than the past three portraits made of New Jersey governors combined, according to the Washington Post.
The painting also has a hidden message, as NorthJersey.com points out, with “STTS” written on it, which stands for “Stronger Than The Storm,” a phrase that was used in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
Former Gov. Chris Christie’s official portait was unveiled Monday evening. It was expected to cost taxpayers $85,000. pic.twitter.com/8BCNjGPVaS
— njdotcom (@njdotcom) November 20, 2018
However, many people online decided that it was not an accurate depiction of Christie’s time in office, which was mired by the “Bridgegate” scandal and—at the end of his second term as governor— an infamous photograph of him enjoying time at the beach in the midst of a government shutdown (which closed public beaches during the July 4th holiday last year).
Here’s some ideas of what people thought the $85,000 portrait should really show:
https://twitter.com/Drawmark/status/1064726836972646400
https://twitter.com/NellSco/status/1064749097918308352
https://twitter.com/MattyCordasco/status/1064880425888333824
Chris Christie officially unofficial protrait unveiling: pic.twitter.com/uBeO00A9X2
— ann marie (@annmarie309) November 20, 2018
Others didn’t create their own portraits, but had some things to say about it.
#ChrisChristie‘s official portrait to be unveiled Monday night at a private event. If he’s holding two ice cream cones, yelling at someone on the boardwalk, only then will it be worth it. @ChrisChristie https://t.co/WsZ07eHReA
— brian (@briandaly473) November 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/MelissaPederse/status/1064904220166381570
https://twitter.com/FullofFrap/status/1064718924162445312
https://twitter.com/NastyJuniper/status/1064900124244099072
Glaring back. The semi-annoyed press conference look pic.twitter.com/62jb9gpy7P
— Charles Stile (@PoliticalStile) November 20, 2018
Last week Christie was mocked for complaining about his commute during a snowstorm that blanketed the northeastern part of the country, which people found to be delightfully ironic.
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