Donald Trump’s historic mugshot has apparently been given a prominent spot in the White House, as seen in the background of a photo shared by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The photo, shared on Modi’s X account following his meeting with Trump on Thursday, appears to show the infamous booking photo framed and hung up just outside the Oval Office, suggesting the second term president has embraced the image as holding symbolic value within his administration.
Trump’s mugshot was taken on Aug. 24, 2023, after he surrendered at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, following an indictment on election-related charges.
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The iconic image shows a stern Trump in a dark blue suit, red tie, and white shirt, staring intensely into the camera with with furrowed brows—a pose that his former national security advisor, John Bolton, said was deliberate attempt to look like a “thug.”
The photograph was “intended to be a sign of intimidation against the prosecutors and the judges,” Bolton told CNN. “He could’ve smiled. He could’ve looked benign.”
The mugshot instantly became a hot topic—Trump was the first former U.S. president to have a booking photograph taken. His campaign swiftly capitalized on its notoriety by selling merchandise featuring the image, including t-shirts, mugs, and drink coolers.
Trump’s official White House portrait for his second term, released on Jan. 16, bears a striking resemblance to his mugshot. The image features a serious, unsmiling Trump glaring into the camera lens—mirroring his booking photo.
It’s a stark contrast to his official portrait during his first term, in which he is seen smiling enthusiastically at the camera, conveying a more approachable demeanor.
Social media users were quick to spot Trump’s mugshot in the background of Modi’s photo.
Russia’s state-run news agency Russia Today (RT) posted on X: “Wait a second: Is President Trump proudly displaying his mugshot in the White House hallway?”
“President Trump has his mugshot hanging in the White House. Iconic,” wrote political commentator Steve Cortes on X.
Modi was the fourth world leader to visit Trump in the White House since he returned to office for a second term on Jan. 20.
