This past week, one of the most prolific political figures of the modern age was arrested: Donald Trump. Deciding to turn himself in, Trump was booked at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta Georgia.  He subsequently had the now internet famous mugshot taken and was released soon after.  In the history of America, there has never been a president as divisive as Trump, and this booking adds more to his status in the American collective. 

The reason for Trump’s unprecedented, though unsurprising, arrest occurred due to 13 separate charges connected to the 2020 Georgia election.  Trump was arrested along with 18 others, including his former lawyer and political figure Rudy Guiliani, and said in a statement, “Those people that have been so unfairly dragged into this, these are high-quality people who don’t even know why they were brought in.” Trump expressed remorse for bringing in innocent people to this situation, but nonetheless used this situation to his advantage. 

During Trump’s arraignment in late March, a fabricated mugshot photo of Donald Trump was widely spread on the internet making its rounds and eventually being discovered as a fake.  Now, a mugshot released by Fulton County has been circulated and gone viral on social media.  Even Trump himself used this publicity to push his own agenda, having his campaign team selling merchandise with his mugshot on it and posting on his X account (formally known as Twitter) for the first time since 2021 with his mugshot, calling his supporters to action across the country. 

Overall, Trump’s arrest has been very controversial, and, if nothing else, has raised Trump’s infamy to staggering heights.  Only time will tell what will be influenced by this arrest, and how the upcoming 2024 election will be affected.