President-elect Donald Trump’s official portrait has been unveiled, causing widespread discussion online for its striking resemblance to his 2023 mugshot.
The photo, shared by his chief photographer, Daniel Torok, on X (formerly Twitter), comes just days before Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are set to be sworn in.
Torok captioned the photos of Trump and Vance with the statement, “We are entering the GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA!” The contrasting styles of the portraits quickly caught attention. While Vance appeared relaxed and approachable with a warm smile, Trump’s stern and unyielding expression dominated his photograph.
The portrait, brightly lit and emphasizing Trump’s furrowed brows and clenched jaw, represents a departure from his 2017 presidential portrait, which showed him with a softer and more welcoming demeanor.
Critics and supporters alike noted its similarity to Trump’s infamous mugshot taken after his arrest in 2023. That image became iconic, fueling a wave of fundraising for his campaign and appearing on merchandise such as T-shirts and mugs.
