The president-elect’s solemn expression draws parallels to his 2023 booking photo
A newly released portrait of Donald Trump, unveiled ahead of his upcoming inauguration, has sparked comparisons to his 2023 mugshot. In the image, the US president-elect is seen gazing directly into the camera with a serious expression and a furrowed brow, donning an American flag lapel pin.
The pose bears a striking resemblance to the infamous photo taken in August 2023, when Mr Trump was booked on charges of allegedly conspiring to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. That historic moment marked the first time a former US president had a mugshot taken. Whether the similarity in the new portrait is intentional remains unclear.
Accompanying Mr Trump’s portrait is one of vice president-elect JD Vance. In contrast to Trump’s sombre demeanour, the former marine is photographed smiling confidently with his arms crossed.
Both portraits were shared with the media under the subject line “Official Portraits Released – And They Go Hard,” complete with a fire emoji.
The inauguration ceremony, set for Monday in Washington DC, will see Mr Trump and Mr Vance take their oaths of office. Following the swearing-in, Mr Trump will deliver the first address of his second presidential term.
The event will feature performances by notable artists, including country music star Carrie Underwood, who is scheduled to sing the national anthem. Outgoing President Joe Biden, who delivered his farewell address earlier this week, will attend the ceremony and has invited Mr Trump to the White House that morning.
Additionally, former US presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are expected to attend, marking a rare gathering of all living former presidents. This will be their second reunion in a month, following their recent attendance at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Prior to this, the group last appeared together publicly in 2018.
