Trump replicates viral mug shot in official presidential photo

Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled his official photo as the 47th US president — an image that bears a striking resemblance to his viral 2023 mug shot.

In the new photo, the soon-to-be commander-in-chief is leaning slightly forward and looking defiantly at the camera, an eyebrow furrowed and lips sealed — a pose which drew comparisons with the picture taken of him in an Atlanta prison as he was facing charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Unlike the mug shot, where Trump is wearing his trademark red tie, this time around the tie is blue, and there is an American flag pin on the lapel of his navy blue jacket.

Trump is shown in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office after being arrested for alleged election interference. Photo: Reuters

Official portraits of Donald J. Trump and JD Vance. Photo: Trump Vance transition team

A year and a half ago, after being released from jail on a $200,000 bond, Trump posted his mug shot on X with the caption “NEVER SURRENDER!”

The post marked the Republican billionaire’s return to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, where his membership was suspended following the violent assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, by his supporters.

He was reinstated on the platform shortly after Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and now Trump’s political ally acquired the company.

Trump, who called the election interference case a “witch hunt,” used the mug shot to raise funds for his election campaign.

T-shirts, mugs, stickers and beverage coolers bearing the image — arguably now the most famous photo of a US president in the country’s history — brought in millions of dollars.

Trump returns to the White House on Monday stronger than ever, despite his status as the first felon to be elected US president after being convicted in a separate case of covering up hush money payments to a porn star.

AFP