As cameras captured every move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House, hawk-eyed social media users noticed an interesting photo frame hanging just outside President Donald Trump’s office. Upon zooming in, it turned out to be the infamous mugshot of Trump that was taken following his arrest in 2023 over allegations that he tried to overturn the 2020 Georgia election results.
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The image of the mugshot, in an ornate gold frame and hung along a hallway, went viral on social media, sparking a plethora of reactions. Even tech titan Elon Musk weighed in on the unique interior design choice. “Based,” Musk tweeted.
The mugshot, which appeared on the front page of the New York Post in 2023, was seen as Trump greeted PM Modi in the White House before their bilateral meeting. As photos of the mugshot went viral, Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, posted a video of it on X.
“Happy Valentine’s Day. Welcome to the beautiful Oval Office,” Scavino tweeted.
The move to frame the infamous image shows that Trump is unruffled about carrying the tag of becoming the first-ever former President subjected to a mugshot. The photo is positioned near the portraits of George Washington and Franklin Roosevelt.
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The mugshot, showing Trump looking sternly at the camera while raising an eyebrow, was taken as he surrendered at Fulton County jail in August 2023 after being charged with attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. It was then viewed as an image of defiance. Trump was released on bail later.
Soon after his release, Trump and his campaign went on to monetise the mugshot, raising USD 7.1 million from merchandise within days of his arrest. The mugshot was visible everywhere, from t-shirts to digital trading cards.