Donald Trump’s scowling new portrait looks strangely familiar
President-elect Donald Trump’s official portrait has been unveiled, and it’s déjà vu of his most infamous picture – his mugshot.
Trump appeared to scowl in his 2025 presidential portrait, furrowing his brows and staring icily at the camera like he did in his 2023 mugshot in the Georgia election interference case. He did not smile.
In his mugshot, Trump flashed a harsher death stare-like look while wearing his signature white dress shirt and red tie with dark blue suit jacket combination.
Trump’s glance was slightly softer in his official portrait, and he wore a blue tie with a white dress shirt and dark blue suit jacket. Part of an American flag appeared in the background.
By contrast, incoming Vice President JD Vance smiled slightly with his mouth closed and had a lighter expression in his eyes, and had his hands folded across his chest.
‘Official Portraits Released — And They Go Hard,’ stated the Trump-Vance Transition Team on Friday morning.
‘In just four days, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States and JD Vance as the 50th Vice President of the United States — and their official portraits are here,’ the team stated.
Trump’s new portrait also diverges from his 2017 presidential portrait, in which he smiled warmly while standing in front of an American flag.
Many social media users interpreted Trump’s new portrait as inspired by his mugshot, which he sold shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise of.
‘100% Trump recreated his mugshot pose for his inauguration picture,’ wrote one X user.
Another wrote: ‘Trump’s inauguration picture looks just like his mugshot! ,,, FOTUS…Felon of The United States!’
‘Mugshot chic,’ said another X user.
Many past US presidents did not smile in their official portraits, including ex-President Barack Obama. Some were not photographed and instead had their portraits painted.
Outgoing President Joe Biden smiled widely in his portrait.
Trump and Vance will be inaugurated into the White House on Monday.
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