Outside the Oval Office, there is a framed photograph of Donald Trump’s mug shot, which was prominently featured on the cover of a New York tabloid. The image, capturing Trump scowling at the camera during his booking at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, has emerged as a symbol. This mug shot was taken in connection with a Georgia case concerning his attempts to reverse the 2020 presidential election results in the state. Experts suggest that many of Trump’s supporters view the numerous felony charges against him in a separate New York case as part of an effort by the establishment to suppress their dissatisfaction.
Cara Finnegan, a communication professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, noted that when Trump’s mug shot was released in August 2023, he and his supporters quickly embraced it, making it a frequent element in Trump-themed merchandise and memes favorable to him. Finnegan believes that Trump’s embrace of the image is linked to his desire to openly challenge the legal actions against him, which he perceives as a conspiracy aimed at undermining him. This approach, regardless of its basis in fact or law, resonates with his base supporters.
In Georgia, Trump continues to face charges related to his efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 election outcome. Separately, in New York, he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsified business records related to a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, intended to influence the 2016 election. Trump received an unconditional discharge for this criminal conviction, meaning he will not face fines, imprisonment, or other penalties.
The New York case marked the only one of Trump’s criminal cases to reach trial. Federal prosecutors later dropped two other criminal cases against him after he won the 2024 election.
Trump is the first president, whether seated or former, to be convicted of criminal charges. His public display of his mug shot demonstrates his disregard for political norms. Finnegan explained that displaying his mug shot outside his office signifies Trump’s defiance of convention.
Finnegan further emphasized that Trump’s actions send political messages, indicating that he refuses to be constrained by legal conventions during his presidency. This is evident in his broad and legally intricate executive orders.
Trump is not the only politician who has leveraged scandal for political gain. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry also created merchandise featuring his mug shot after accusations of abusing his gubernatorial power.
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, expressed concerns that the increasing tolerance for controversy could threaten democratic health. He explained that scandals no longer carry the same weight, resulting in a loss of accountability. Scandals, he argued, are like warning signs, and if they lose significance, the system loses a mechanism to identify its flaws.
