Turning lemons into lemonade: Donald Trump's team launch mugshot-inspired merchandise

This handout image released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on August 24, 2023 shows the booking photo of former US President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

This handout image released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on August 24, 2023 shows the booking photo of former US President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

Published Aug 26, 2023

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Donald Trump's campaign team have started selling merchandise that features his mugshot.

The historic mugshot was released by authorities in Georgia after the former US president - who has been accused of trying to overturn his electoral defeat in 2020 - turned himself in at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta.

Trump, 77, subsequently posted his own mugshot on X, which was formerly known as Twitter.

The post was Trump's first message on X since January 2021 and the message also featured a link to his official website.

The mugshot has already been attached to various bits of merchandise by Trump's team, including T-shirts, coffee mugs and bumper stickers.

Trump and 18 co-defendants were given a Friday deadline to voluntarily surrender after they were charged with trying to overturn the election result.

Earlier this month, the billionaire businessman claimed to be the victim of a political "witch hunt".

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2023

Trump - who served as the 45th US president between 2017 and 2021 - took to social media to rubbish the allegations and to also question the integrity of the legal process.

Trump - who still plans to run in the next US election - wrote on Truth Social at the time: "So, the Witch Hunt continues! 19 people Indicated tonight, including the former President of the United States, me, by an out of control and very corrupt District Attorney who campaigned and raised money on, ‘I will get Trump.’

“And what about those Indictment Documents put out today, long before the Grand Jury even voted, and then quickly withdrawn?

“Sounds Rigged to me! Why didn’t they Indict 2.5 years ago? Because they wanted to do it right in the middle of my political campaign. Witch Hunt! (sic)"