One image, one face, one American moment: The Donald Trump mug shot
With the snap of a camera, time stood still. In the heart of downtown Atlanta’s jail, a pivotal juncture in American history was etched into existence. Within the frame, a former president of the United States found himself, for the very first time, in the grip of the law, his moment captured in a manner more commonly associated with illicit drug dealers or reckless drivers. The mantle of authority, if only for an instant, was stripped away.
What remains is an indelible image destined for the annals of history, long after the departure of Donald Trump from the stage of politics. Marty Kaplan, a seasoned professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communications, affirms that this moment will be forever interwoven with the visual language of this era.
The photograph presents Trump, facing the camera against an unadorned gray backdrop. His gaze locks onto the lens in an unyielding stare, clad in a blue suit, crisp white shirt, and vibrant red tie. His stance is resolute, shoulders squared, head subtly inclined towards the camera’s gaze. The insignia of the sheriff has been digitally superimposed above his right shoulder. Amidst a group of 18 individuals facing charges alongside him in Georgia, Trump stands apart. Their smiles mirror yearbook portraits; his, however, exudes defiance as if he confronts a formidable adversary through the camera’s lens.
This photograph is unlike any other. The sight of Trump confronting charges is no longer a novelty in 2023; Americans have witnessed him stand in a New York courtroom or observed watercolor sketches from federal courthouses in Miami and Washington, where cameras are not allowed.
As remarked by Anderson Cooper on CNN, “The former president of the United States has an inmate number,” precisely P01135809. Yet, until the moment of surrender to face accusations of undermining the 2020 election in Georgia, his fourth indictment that year, Trump had evaded the iconic pose of a booking photo that millions of accused individuals before him had endured. Regardless of the fact that, like all Americans, his innocence remains until proven guilty, the mug shot resonates with an additional emotional and cultural weight.
A mug shot encapsulates the visceral essence of the criminal justice system—an emblem of lost liberties. It forever memorializes one of life’s most harrowing moments, a snapshot never intended for family albums. For an individual accustomed to privilege, someone who cherishes control and meticulously curates his public image, a mug shot must be profoundly alien. It’s a stark contrast to a man who once held the most influential position globally.
“‘Indictment’ is a somewhat detached term. Words, compared to images, often fall short,” reflects Kaplan, drawing from his experience as a former speechwriter for Vice President Walter Mondale and Hollywood screenwriter. “A mug shot embodies a genre. Its essence is that of a deer caught in headlights, a criminal pinned down. It’s the walk of shame captured.”
Already, Trump is harnessing this moment for his purposes. As he campaigns for a second White House term while confronting legal challenges in four jurisdictions, his campaign reports surges in contributions following each indictment.
Trump’s approach to the image is unapologetic. His campaign had already conceptualized this image long before its manifestation. Months prior to the photograph taken in Georgia, the campaign capitalized on the potential of a mug shot for fundraising. For $36, supporters could purchase a T-shirt featuring a fictitious booking photo of Trump with the phrase “not guilty.” A plethora of similar designs catered to diverse preferences, including those critical of Trump.
Now, reality aligns with the conceptualization. As the mug shot hits the public sphere, Trump’s campaign seizes the opportunity for fundraising. The campaign’s website promptly features the image, with the subject line of their latest fundraising email reading, “BREAKING NEWS: THE MUGSHOT IS HERE.” This message introduces a new T-shirt emblazoned with the image and the quote, “This mugshot will forever go down in history as a symbol of America’s defiance of tyranny.”
In an act of solidarity, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posts an image of herself on the former Twitter platform, smiling broadly against a gray backdrop. The sheriff’s logo in the corner mimics the jail’s style—a DIY mug shot, if you will. Her caption, “I stand with President Trump against the commie DA Fani Willis,” takes a swipe at Fulton County, Georgia’s district attorney, the driving force behind Trump’s indictment.
History is replete with instances of politicians exploiting their booking photos for political gains. They’ve offered upbeat grins or sardonic smirks, striving to glean positivity from adversity.
Yet, within the annals of U.S. history encompassing 45 presidents, Trump occupies a singular position—not merely someone who commanded the most influential government worldwide but a symbol that, for many at home and abroad, embodies the essence of the United States. To observe his countenance, captured by a lens he does not seek, is to confront a profound moment.
“The potency of a still image is irrefutable,” remarks Mitchell Stevens, a New York University professor emeritus whose work delves into the role of imagery in contemporary society and its encroachment on written discourse.
“This image crystallizes a moment, capturing a somber juncture for Donald Trump,” Stevens adds. “It’s an experience he cannot simply dismiss or brush aside. This moment will persist. And there’s a distinct possibility that this very image will stand as history’s enduring depiction of him.”