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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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President Donald Trump's mug shot, one of the most infamous photos of the president that became a symbol of defiance for Trump and his supporters, now proudly hangs in the hallway outside the Oval Office.
Why It Matters
The booking photo, which shows Trump glaring into the camera, was released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office shortly after Trump surrendered in August 2023 on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
Read More on Politics
A first for a former U.S. president, Trump's campaign capitalized on the mug shot by slapping the image onto mugs, T-shirts and other merchandise and used it to fundraise.
While some viewed it as a moment of shame, it became a badge of honor for Trump and his supporters as he faced criminal charges in multiple cases that he decried as political persecution while campaigning to win back the White House in 2024.
The president recreated the expression from his mug shot for his official portrait, which was released ahead of his inauguration last month.
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What To Know
The new addition was first spotted in a photo taken during Trump's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday.
The framed mug shot can be seen hanging on the wall in the hallway outside the Oval Office, just behind the head of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said during a roundtable with Black voters in June last year: "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. Since it happened, the support among the Black community and Hispanic community has skyrocketed."
Donald Trump Jr. told reporters in August 2023 that the mug shot "is going to be the most iconic photo in the history of U.S. politics, if not perhaps the history of the United States. I'm not worried about that one at all."
What's Next
The future of the Georgia election interference case remains uncertain given Trump's return to the White House. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case in December, but she has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the ruling.
The two federal cases against Trump were withdrawn after he won the 2024 election. Trump received an unconditional discharge in the New York hush money case last month but is appealing the conviction.
Update 2/14/25, 10:54 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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