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Unmasking the Mug Shot: A Closer Look at Donald Trump’s Legal Journey

Written by: Hayden Hammon

On August 24th, 2023, Donald Trump turned himself into the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia, because of his indictment of election racketeering with the 2020 Presidential Election. According to USA Today, “Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act. It’s a law that has historically been used to target organized crime, drug operations, and more. Trump is just one of nineteen defendants in the state indictment, along with his former attorney Rudy Giuliani, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , and more”. Trump had his mug shot taken and immediately was released on bond. The mug shot would quickly become one of the most famous mug shots of all time and extremely benefited and hurt his image.  

On the date of his surrender, Trump supporters and advisories from across the globe voiced their support and disdain for the former president. Some viewed him as a criminal who was finally getting what he deserved, while others saw him as a martyr. But no matter how one viewed him, everyone was tuned in to see what they knew would be a world-famous mug shot. 

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. on the 24th, Trump turned himself into jail and became the first president in United States history to be arrested. It only took a few short minutes for the mug shot to go from the jail camera to every single cell phone in the world. By the time Trump was leaving the building, the photo was already posted across all social media platforms. It was memed, ridiculed, mocked, praised, and blasted everywhere.  

The notion, innocent until proven guilty, still stands strong with the American system, but most Americans (and most people across the world) have already determined what his verdict should be. Supporters of his claim this mug shot shows him as the victim, someone who fought the corrupt system and was punished unfairly. Trump’s opponents and rivals viewed this arrest as long overdue and believed that this mug shot would finally be the nail in the coffin that would put an end to the reign of Donald Trump. But with all the hate and all the support, the one thing Trump received was attention.  

Donald Trump immediately turned what some believed to be his most humiliating moment into his greatest achievement by making and selling merchandise with his mug shot. According to Politico, “The former president has raised $7.1 million since he was booked at an Atlanta jail Thursday evening, according to figures provided first to POLITICO by his campaign. On Friday alone, Trump raised $4.18 million, making it the single-highest 24-hour period of his campaign to date, according to a person familiar with the totals”. Within days, Trump was able to turn his mug shot into the fuel he needed to ignite his campaign for the 2024 Presidential Election.  

Supporters now wear his mug shot as a mark of pride, while others fly it as the flag of the enemy. Trump’s true court date is still to be determined, but in the meantime, the arrest of Donald Trump has only made him more famous by spreading his image to both friend and foe alike. The main thing this whole process has done is continue to create a larger divide between the American people.