Former President Donald J. Trump has presented an unruffled facade despite facing four indictments since March. However, he acknowledged in an interview with Fox News that he did not relish the experience of having his mug shot taken after being charged with racketeering in Georgia. Trump stated, “It is not a comfortable feeling — especially when you’ve done nothing wrong.” Nonetheless, he capitalized on the situation.
Trump wasted no time in featuring the mug shot prominently on his campaign website, accompanied by a “personal note.” The website also provided tabs for users to make small-dollar donations to his campaign. Additionally, he shared the picture on X, marking his return to the platform for the first time since being banned following the Capitol attack in January 2021.
Taking advantage of the mug shot’s potential for fundraising, Trump’s campaign launched merchandise, including mugs, beverage coolers, and T-shirts with the mug shot and the slogan “Never Surrender!” His son, Donald Trump Jr., also promoted merchandise featuring the photo on his own website. Proceeds from the sales would go towards a legal-defense fund set up to assist witnesses in his father’s cases.
The mug shot represented an opportunity for Trump to boost his fundraising figures, particularly after a decline following his March indictment in New York and the subsequent charges in June. Anticipating the mug shot’s political value, Trump’s adviser, Chris LaCivita, issued a warning on social media to prevent misuse of the photo by entities seeking to connect their campaigns to Trump’s fame. Nevertheless, the mug shot release was public, and the photo was a public document.
Trump has been known to seek financial gain from various aspects of his life and career. Although even he acknowledges that the personal and political fusion surrounding his mug shot is extraordinary. Trump commented, “They insisted on a mug shot and I agreed to do that. This is the only time I’ve ever taken a mug shot.” Notably, no mug shot was taken in the New York case, as federal officials considered it unnecessary due to Trump’s high recognition level.
In Fulton County, Georgia, officials adhered strictly to protocol, capturing Trump’s mug shot as he arrived at the jail, with news helicopters tracking his motorcade. This decision left some of Trump’s rivals, such as Nikki Haley, unsettled. Haley described the situation as “disgraceful,” questioning how the country reached this point and expressing her belief that seeing a mug shot of a 77-year-old former president should not be a source of satisfaction for anyone.
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