Trump’s mug shot goes viral after his surrender in Georgia election interference case

Former U.S. President and current Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was put under arrest and processed for the fourth time in a criminal case on Wednesday. Trump turned himself in at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia to face charges in the 2020 elections subversion case.

As in his previous court arraignments, Trump was fingerprinted but this time he also had his mug shot taken. In addition, for the first time, Trump had to pay a bond of $200,000. 

He was booked as inmate No. P01135809.

“I really believe this is a very sad day for America, and it should never happen,” Trump told reporters before heading back to Bedminster, New Jersey. "If you challenge an election, you should be able to challenge an election. I thought the election was a rigged election, a stolen election, and I should have every right to do that.“

"As you know, you have many people that you've been watching over the years do the same thing, whether it's Hillary Clinton or Stacey Abrams or many others,” he continued. 

“When you have that great freedom through challenge, you have to be able to, otherwise you can have very dishonest elections. What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong,” he concluded. 

Trump, along with 18 other co-defendants - including his former lawyer Rudi Giuliani and Mark Meadows - were indicted on 41 counts over efforts to overturn the election results in the state. 

As part of his release conditions, Trump is not allowed to communicate with his co-defendants or use social media to target them. 

Each of the defendants was charged under the state’s racketeering law. Additional counts included alleged involvement in different schemes to influence the election results.

The indictment was brought down after a two-and-a-half-year investigation led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. 

Trump has not shied away from using the mug shot himself. He posted it on X, formerly Twitter, for his first post on the social media website since being banned in January 2021.

https://t.co/MlIKklPSJT pic.twitter.com/Mcbf2xozsY

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2023

On Thursday, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee opened an investigation into the DA and the Georgia prosecution. Committee chairman Jim Jordan said the probe will examine whether Willis coordinated with federal officials, including Special Counsel Jack Smith, in her election interference indictment.

Trump called the various charges he is facing “bullshit” when he sat down for an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The interview was aired at the same time as the first Republican 2024 primary debate kicked off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday and has reached “231,000,000 Views, and still counting,” Trump posted on Thursday. 

He added on Truth Social: “But please excuse me, I have to start getting ready to head down to Atlanta, Georgia, where Murder and other Violent Crimes have reached levels never seen before, to get ARRESTED by a Radical Left, Lowlife District Attorney, Fani Willis, for A PERFECT PHONE CALL, and having the audacity to challenge a RIGGED & STOLEN ELECTION. THE EVIDENCE IS IRREFUTABLE! ARREST TIME: 7:30 P.M.”

Trump referred to a phone call he held after the elections with Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. During the conversation, Trump had asked Raffensperger “to find 11,780 votes,” which is one more than the 11,779-vote margin of defeat, as he claimed to have “won the state."

The trial for Trump and his co-defendants could begin as soon as Oct. 23. Willis suggested the date but it was opposed by Trump’s lawyers. 

The former president has replaced his top lawyer in the case just ahead of his surrender. 

The now infamous mug is being used on a range of merchandise sold on several websites, including by his son, Donald Trump Jr.

Free Trump Merch! To be clear all profits from this on my Web Store are going to be donated to the Legal Defense Fund to fight the tyranny & insanity we’re seeing before us. Unlike many, I won’t try to profit from this but will do what I can to help. https://t.co/qUQDGg2wAB pic.twitter.com/dm6wL3Mf29

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 25, 2023