Following the indictment, arrest, and processing of former president and current presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, Americans have been reacting to the mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Trump, making his first post on Twitter since being banned from the platform in the wake of the events of January 6, 2021, posted his mugshot with the message: “Never surrender!” The image quickly garnered well over 1 million likes and has been seen by more than 135 million people as of Friday.
Elon Musk, who removed the block on Trump’s account months ago, shared the image, calling it “Next-level.”
In Texas, several political leaders voiced their concerns with the whole process.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is about to face an impeachment trial, reacted to the mugshot on social media, stating, “I stand with [Donald Trump]! The political witch-hunt has to stop.”
“Safe, secure elections matter, and you always have the right to question them,” Paxton added.
Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) tweeted, “Regardless of who you or I support for President, the deep state is real. They are real in Washington and in Austin. They will jail their political opponents, and silence their opposition. We won’t let them win.”
Republican leaders from other states also weighed in on Twitter. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) posted, “Cowards indict their opponents. Leaders just lead.”
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) stated, “The weaponized state and federal judicial process must come to an end. America sees the corrupt two-tiered system that is being used to target the top political opponent of both Biden and the administrative state. We must save our Republic, we must stand with President Trump.”
Political leaders on the other side of the aisle were also quick to share their opinions on Trump’s arrest. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA) tweeted, “POV the law applied equally to everyone even failed former presidents.”
A tweet by House Judiciary Democrats expressed a similar sentiment. The post included an image of Trump’s mugshot and the comment, “No one is above the law.”
The arrest and mugshot followed a Georgia grand jury indictment of the former president on charges of knowingly and willfully conspiring to change the outcome of the Georgia election in the last presidential election, as reported by The Dallas Express. An additional 18 individuals were also indicted.
After posting a $200,000 bond, Trump was released and later denounced the proceedings, calling it a “Terrible experience.”
“I came in, I was treated very nicely, but it is what it is,” he said.
