The mug shot of former U.S. President Donald Trump taken at a Georgia courthouse has been turned into merchandise such as T-shirts, shot glasses, mugs, posters, and bobblehead dolls by various parties.
The photograph, showcasing Trump in a red tie with shining hair and a stern expression, was taken as the Republican presidential front-runner faced several felony allegations related to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Many of his supporters, including his campaign team, have rallied behind this photograph, supporting Trump’s assertion that the allegations against him stem from political bias. For critics, the image represents the culmination of his extended legal troubles.
Merchandise like “NEVER SURRENDER!” mug shot t-shirts priced at $34.00, drink holders at $15.00 for a pair, and coffee mugs at $25.00 are being retailed by Trump’s Save America fundraising committee.
Trump’s son, Don Jr., offers “FREE TRUMP” mug shot t-shirts at $29.99 and posters for $19.99.
Conversely, the Lincoln Project, an influential group opposing Trump and established by Republicans, offers shot glasses with the mug shot and “FAFO” – standing for “Fuck Around and Find Out” – for $55.00 per set of six.
The crafts website, Etsy, has an assortment of mocking items, inclusive of a Taylor Swift concert t-shirt parody priced at $26.00.
By Friday afternoon, an independent t-shirt store in Los Angeles was already retailing shirts featuring the image.
Commenting on the trend, Atlanta resident CJ Butler stated, “I think it’s very classic consumerism for this country. Hey, it’s Trump. He sells everything so why not have a T-shirt?”
Some political analysts foresee that the picture might significantly boost fundraising for the Republican candidate.
David Kochel, a veteran Republican presidential campaign professional from Iowa, expressed, “His superfans are going to see this and it will be a fist-pumping exercise for them to send in that $25 and get that shirt or that mug.”
“It’s kind of sad at the end of the day that the campaign is going to celebrate his indictment over 13 criminal charges – but that’s where our politics is.”
For a while now, Trump has been using the legal investigations against him to rally his followers, beginning with his initial charge in New York.
His fundraising entities, inclusive of his past and ongoing presidential bids, have reportedly poured over $98 million into merchandise endeavors since 2015, sourcing items such as bumper stickers, hooded sweatshirts, and coffee mugs for sale.
After the recent Republican debate, co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita told the public that they’ve been strategizing to transform the four charges into an advantage, “ensuring every situation was maximized, which I believe we achieved.”
Veterans in political campaigns suggest that such endeavors can yield profits of 50% or even higher from merchandise sales. LaCivita cautioned on Thursday against those attempting to profit from the image without the campaign’s consent.
