A Thousand Pictures is Worth a Word

When Trump went in to be booked in Georgia after being indicted, he posed for his mug shot and happily released it to the public.

He not only released it, he and his team did their best to market it and raise money off of it.

What seems likely, since the mug shot seems so pointed in its intent, is that Trump practiced ahead of time for the look he wanted.

And the look he seems to have wanted is to look like Mr. Tough Guy.

Mean

Angry.

A guy who will be, as he earlier had said, "Your retribution."

And so Trump and Republicans plastered this mug shot around as much as a Hollywood studio plasters posters of its upcoming blockbuster.

​Because Trump clearly thought the mug shot was great.

​And showed him looking really tough.

And mean and angry.  Like the leader you would want.  To be your retribution.

There are a few problems with this, though.

​First, it's not a movie poster or a family portrait.  It's a mug shot.

​And so, every time you see it, it's near-impossible not to think, "Oh, that's Trump's mug shot!"

And we all know that people only get mug shots because they were arrested.

​Or in Trump's case, indicted.

Four times.

And this mug shot only serves to remind everyone of that.

The other problem is that on very first viewing, whatever Trump wanted to get across with the mug shot, it's only a first viewing. 

​And on second viewing --

​-- it starts to look like a mug shot.

​And then after subsequent viewings --

-- it looks like an guy pissed off he got caught.

And then on more and more and even more viewings --

-- it starts to look a little creepy.

And since the mug shot has kept being plastered everywhere --

-- it eventually looks incredibly creepy.

And whiney.   And petulant.  And wound so tight, he's on the verge of screaming, out of control.

And even a bit malevolent.

The very last kind of person most people would want as their president.

Let alone a relative.  Or neighbor.  Or stranger sneaking around your block.  Or school crosswalk guard.  Or the guy sitting next to you on the bus.

And still, Trump and Republicans keep plastering it everywhere.

Reminding the public that Trump was indicted four times.

And convicted of fraud.

And found liable for rape.

And tried to overthrow the government and democracy, enables white supremacists, and is a malignant narcissist, pathological liar, anti-Semitic fascist.

Who intentionally chose to make this specific expression for his mug shot.  On purpose.

Because he thought this mug shot made him look good and was exactly how he wanted people to see him.

Forgetting that it is not a portrait, but a mug shot.

And not realizing that, after relentless, ongoing, non-stop views, it makes him look like a creep.

And even a bit malevolent.

But mostly -- creepy.

The camera never lies.