Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/JIM WATSON
Topics: Donald Trump, News, US News
Gerrard Kaonga
President Donald Trump is no stranger to controversy and has got people talking with a single change he has made to the White House.
Trump’s infamous mug shot after he was arrested immediately became one of the most talked about pictures and quickly spread around the world.
For his critics, it served as a clear reminder that he should not be able to run for president again, and for his supporters, it acted as a rallying cry to stand by him even more.
The 2023 image was released to the world amidst his convictions last year for falsifying business records over a hush money payment made to adult star Stormy Daniels in his 2016 election campaign.
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Much to the frustration of Trump’s critics, he was given a penalty sentence just days before his inauguration, meaning he will not spend any time in prison.
But due to a recent meeting between now President Trump and India’s PM Narendra Modi, the world is now aware of how Trump feels about the image.
The image has been put in a golden frame and hangs up outside his oval office.
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Many people on social media rejoiced at this move by Trump, claiming it to be a massive middle finger to those who attempted to prevent him from running in the election.
However, others have interpreted it as a corny and lame move.
One Twitter user commented: “I love it. Seinfeld framed his tv rejection letter. We all have ways to turn bad times into motivation.”
With another adding: “Very fitting! What was supposed to doom his campaign put him in the Oval Office.”
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Another said: “Should use that as his official POTUS pic everywhere. EVERYWHERE.”
However, while Trump did have many fans for the stunt, not everyone was as amused by the move.
One person wrote: “We all know he is pandering to the cult with that garbage and mockery of our country.
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Another added: “Of course he does. First criminal president...and he and MAGA are proud of it. Make America Great Again?”
With a third commenting: “It should serve as a reminder to everyone that the president is a criminal.”
While Trump hasn’t publicly spoken about keeping the mug shot close to him in the White House, he has previously insisted it was an iconic photo.
During a roundtable of Black voters in June last year, he said: “"The mug shot is the best ev—it just beat Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra by a lot. That's the No. 1 mug shot of all time. It's really an amazing thing.
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"Since it happened, the support among the Black community and Hispanic community has skyrocketed."