President-elect Donald Trump unveiled his official inaugural portrait on Thursday, sparking intense reactions online. The image, resembling Trump’s 2023 mugshot, quickly drew comparisons and divided opinions.
Supporters praised the bold and defiant tone of the portrait, calling it a symbol of strength. Critics, however, found the stern expression and dramatic lighting unsettling, with some likening it to a villainous character. “It’s like a nod to his mugshot,” one user commented, referencing the infamous photo taken after Trump’s 2023 arrest on election interference charges in Georgia.
The portrait, released alongside Vice President-elect J.D. Vance’s, features Trump’s scowl and slightly tilted head, mirroring the mugshot but with heightened intensity. While supporters embraced it as a statement of resilience, detractors mocked it as more reflective of a “revenge tour” than leadership.
Like his 2016 portrait, Trump’s choice of imagery has polarized public opinion, reinforcing his signature style of provocative symbolism.
