The previous president voluntarily surrendered to Georgia authorities on Thursday evening, subsequent to being indicted for his endeavors to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
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The initial mug shot of a U.S. president has now been unveiled to the public, sparking a significant online response.
Former President Donald Trump turned himself into Georgia authorities on Thursday evening after being indicted for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
In the mug shot, Trump appears with a resolute countenance and raised eyebrows.
By Thursday evening, his political action committee (PAC) had already initiated fundraising linked to the mug shot, offering T-shirts to donors contributing $47 or more. The number 47 alludes to his potential status as the 47th president. The shirts bear the inscription “NEVER SURRENDER.” Additionally, Trump shared the photograph on Truth Social accompanied by the caption “ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”
Trump underwent booking procedures on Thursday at the Fulton County Jail, undergoing fingerprinting and having his mug shot captured. His height was documented at 6 feet 3 inches, with a weight of 215 pounds. Shortly thereafter, the photograph was released and swiftly gained traction on social media.
Even before the official release of the mug shot, the hashtag #TrumpMugShot had surged in popularity on the platform formerly known as Twitter. Counterfeit mug shots of Trump circulated on the site.
The significance of Trump’s image lies in its portrayal as the inaugural instance of a criminal mug shot for a U.S. president or former president. It holds the potential to appear in historical records and on the front pages of newspapers across the nation.
Trump and 18 others were indicted by a grand jury last week on charges of racketeering and more, following a two-year investigation. All defendants are expected to surrender by Friday.
Numerous mug shots from other defendants have already been released, including those of Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, and Jenna Ellis.
Mug shots fulfill various functions, including the identification and documentation of a defendant for law enforcement purposes. Typically, these photographs depict the defendant in a non-smiling demeanor, though some politicians have notably smiled for theirs, using the opportunity to make a political statement.
Trump traversed uncharted terrain as the initial former president to confront criminal charges, following his indictment by a New York grand jury in March for his alleged involvement in a scheme to pay hush money to a porn star during the 2016 presidential campaign. Subsequently, Trump has faced three more indictments — two on a federal level — yet a mug shot had not been taken until now. Trump has persistently denied any wrongdoing in all four cases.