The "lipstick on a pig" is a very old response to the presentation of old ideas under a new facade.  Then-candidate Obama's comment was a direct and clear reference to policies.  Read the quotation.  Mr. Lees' is a reference to efforts to "soften" Mr. Trump's image and remove the taint of the many genuinely (to use your term) ugly remarks Mr. Trump has made.  In today's work of readily available internet archives it's very difficult to "rewrite" history.  Someone will do the research, as did jamesjohnson, and call you on it.