Donald Trump admitted being sent to the notorious Fulton County Jail was “a horrific experience” and lamented that jail officials “insisted” that he have a mugshot taken.
The 77-year-old made history by becoming the first former president to pose for a mugshot after his arrest for trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results – and he shared the picture on X, the platform officially known as Twitter .
As Trump flew home to New Jersey on Thursday, he called Newsmax anchor Greg Kelly and complained about the day’s events.
“A terrible experience,” he said.
“When I came in, I was treated very nicely. But it is what it is.
“I took a mugshot. I had never heard the word mug shot before. They didn’t teach me that at the Wharton School of Finance.”
He told Fox News Digital it was “not pleasant”.
“They insisted on a mug shot and I agreed to that,” he said. “It’s the only time I’ve ever taken a mug shot.”
“It’s not a comfortable feeling – especially when you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Donald Trump spoke to Newsmax by phone Thursday night while flying home from Atlanta to New Jersey after being sent to jail
Donald Trump made history by becoming the first former president to pose for a mug shot after being arrested for attempting to overturn the 2020 Georgia election results
The Fulton County Jail has released Donald Trump’s accounting file detailing the charges and his key statistics
He told Fox and Newsmax the booking was part of “election interference.”
“It was a very sad experience and it is a very sad day for our country.”
Trump’s height of 6ft 3in and weight of 215lbs were recorded and it was unclear during the booking process how the numbers were determined. He was given a prisoner identification number: P01135809.
He was subsequently released on payment of 10 percent of his $200,000 bail after spending less than 20 minutes at the notorious facility.
He told Newsmax host Greg Kelly it was “an experience I never thought I would have to go through,” but added it was his fourth time.
“I never knew anything about charges in my entire life, but now I’ve been charged about four times.”
“And all by the radical left.” And in coordination, absolute coordination, with the Justice Department.’
Trump told Kelly Georgia prosecutors were “crazy” and described them as “vicious animals.”
He said he could not remember meeting many of the 18 accused alongside him.
“I don’t even know I’ve met many of these people — but I have met a few,” he said. “And their lives are being destroyed by these lunatics.” These are animals, these are vicious animals that have destroyed these people’s lives.”
Trump’s motorcade can be seen outside the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta
He told Kelly he was charged for telling people to check out Newsmax.
“I mean, I counted where — you’re going to love that and.” [Newsmax CEO] “Chris Ruddy will be thrilled,” Trump said.
“But one of the things is that I’ve been telling people.” “Newsmax.”
“Did you know that? That was one of my counts. “I’ve been telling people to check out Newsmax.”
Kelly replied, “We love it sir.”
Trump continued, “I was charged for telling people to check out Newsmax.”
“Thank you for that,” Kelly replied before attempting to continue.
“I hope you don’t get charged,” Trump joked. “You’ll probably be charged for mentioning your name, but I guess you won’t mind.”
The former president traveled to Georgia from his home in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
His motorcade first headed to Newark Airport, and the New York-born billionaire boarded his Boeing 757 to fly to Atlanta.
He landed in Atlanta just after 7 p.m., waved and crossed his fingers to the waiting media, got off the plane and was driven 14 miles to the jail.
Trump’s arrival at the Fulton County jail on Rice Street in downtown Atlanta was greeted with loud cheers from his supporters and some boos from critics.
He spent about 25 minutes at the run-down facility, where seven people have died in custody since earlier this year, and was treated far more quickly than other accused criminals.
Trump’s height and weight were recorded, as well as his hair and eye color.
His fingerprints and booking photo were taken and his deposit paid.
By 7:55 p.m. Thursday, he was back in his motorcade and en route to Atlanta Airport.
Trump declared on the tarmac that it was “a very sad day for America”.
He said it was “a travesty of justice,” adding, “We did nothing wrong, I did nothing wrong.”
Trump said, “This is election interference.” So I want to thank you for being here. We haven’t done anything wrong. “We had every right, every single right, to contest an election that we felt was dishonest.”
He then boarded his plane and flew back to New Jersey.
The former president boarded his plane just before 8:20 p.m. to leave Atlanta after being held in the Fulton County Jail
Trump is seen climbing the steps of his plane to take off
Supporters of Donald Trump, Georgina and Cliff MacMorris, hold flags outside the Fulton County Jail ahead of Trump’s surrender
A spate of nine Trump allies have already turned themselves in the Georgia jail this week ahead of Friday’s deadline
Before his surrender, Trump criticized Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis, calling her a “radical left, low-life district attorney.”
His surrender came hours after Willis set a date for the trial.
She called for Trump’s trial to begin on October 23 — a date widely believed to be unimaginably close.
Also on Thursday, his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, turned himself in to police.
The mug shots of a handful of other Trump allies and “co-conspirators” who were in the Georgia jail this week were released Thursday by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
They are accused of joining a Trump-led “conspiracy” to illegally alter the outcome of the election.
Among them was “America’s Mayor” Rudy Giuliani, who faced the humiliation of having his mug shot taken after his incarceration in the Atlanta jail on Wednesday.
In the picture, Giuliani can be seen looking straight ahead with a slight frown, industrial lights glow on his forehead and a sheriff’s badge hangs on the wall to his right.
The former Trump attorney faces 13 felonies, including RICO charges — the same number as Trump.
It was a stunning and symbolic turnaround for Giuliani, a former mob boss prosecutor who used the RICO Act to take down the Mafia while serving as a Manhattan district attorney in the 1980s.
Trump criticized Giuliani’s arrest in a Truth Social post following the release of the 79-year-old mugshot.
“The greatest mayor in the history of New York City has just been ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia for fighting for election integrity.” HOW SAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. MAGA!’ Trump wrote.
Mark Meadows immediately had a prison record in the Fulton County system that included details such as his height and weight – 6 feet and 250 pounds, respectively.
It was described as having blue eyes and “gray or partly gray” hair.
In the photo released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, he looks directly at the camera, angry and with a slight snarl on his lips.
The first co-defendants to come forward were attorney John Eastman and bail bondsman Scott Hall, who arrived at the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday.
Eastman wrote a memo outlining steps Mike Pence, then-Vice President, could take to interfere with voter counting while he chairs the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to keep Trump in office .
Former Georgia GOP chair and state legislature David Shafer and former Coffee County GOP chair Cathy Latham turned themselves in jail early Wednesday morning – their bails were set at $75,000.
They have since all been released.
Trump is seen arriving at Atlanta Airport on Thursday
The New York-born businessman arrived in Atlanta around 7 p.m. Thursday
Trump’s motorcade leaves Atlanta airport and heads to the Fulton County jail
Georgia-based attorney Ray Smith and Trump’s campaign attorney Ken Chesebro were also charged Wednesday.
Chesebro’s bail was set at $100,000, Smith’s at $50,000, and both were released from prison about two hours after their arrival.
Trump’s hot-tempered former attorney, known as “Kraken,” Sidney Powell, posted $100,000 bail in Georgia on Wednesday afternoon — and his mugshot has been released.
Best known for her stories about Dominion Voting Systems, Powell is among the “Strike Force” lawyers who toured the country unsuccessfully pitching a voter fraud theory to all legal bodies.
Dizzy-looking attorney Jenna Ellis, beaming over her mugshot, turned herself in to authorities around the same time and was posted $100,000 in bail.
Ellis tweeted reports again, saying that she “absolutely owned this mugshot” and “just made the mugshots great again.”
Willis gave Trump and his co-defendants until 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 25 to volunteer for the arraignment.
The 41 counts against the former president and his 18 co-defendants represent the fourth and most recent indictment against him. Trump did not have to take a mugshot for his last three indictments.
He was charged with RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) – a charge often used to try mafia figures, cartel leaders and gang bosses.
He is also accused of inciting an official to violate the oath; conspiracy to commit first-degree forgery; Perjury; and a host of other counts.
If convicted on all counts, he faces 71 years in prison — and unlike federal charges, state charges cannot be pardoned by a president.
None of the 19 have objected so far, as the indictment process in Georgia is separate from the accounting process.
Willis has requested that these charges take place during the week of September 5th.
The accused can refrain from appearing at this hearing and comment on the allegations made against them. Lawyers may speak on their behalf.
The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction in the airspace around the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET today due to a “VIP moment.”
The ex-president shook up the legal team handling his defense in the Georgia case, replacing attorney Drew Findling with Steven Sadow just hours before he made his way to Georgia to surrender.
The rest of his team, including Jennifer Little and Marissa Goldberg, are expected to stay.
He has also been indicted in New York over an alleged hush-money scheme, in Miami over allegations that he mishandled classified information, and in Washington, DC over his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
In the photo released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Meadows looks directly at the camera angrily and with a slight snarl on his lips
On Wednesday, he posted on his Truth Social account that he was “proudly” preparing for his arrest in Georgia.
“No one has ever fought for election integrity like President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote on his Truth Social account.
“For this I will be proudly arrested in Georgia tomorrow afternoon.” GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!’
Before his mugshot was officially released, Trump’s campaign team used a fake image to raise funds based on the Fulton County Sheriff’s threat. The campaign turned the image into t-shirts for sale.
The former president’s campaign says it has raised $8 million in donations since he was first impeached in Manhattan.
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and persecute you…” Matthew 5:44
“But whoever trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.
Rejoice in the Lord and rejoice that you… pic.twitter.com/lGcxDN0skI— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) August 23, 2023
The Fulton County Jail is shown on April 11, 2023 in Atlanta
T-shirts with fake images have been sold at Trump’s fundraisers as the former president’s campaign has called for $8 million in donations since his indictment in Manhattan
Trump’s arrest also comes a few hours after the first Republican presidential debate.
Eight Republican candidates took the stage in a high-stakes duel Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
“If former President Trump were convicted in court, would you still support him as your party’s choice?” asked Fox News host Brett Baier. “Please raise your hand if you like.”
Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, was the only candidate who refused to raise his hand.
“I didn’t raise my hand. Because there is an important issue that we have to face as a party,” he said. “Over a year ago I said that Donald Trump was morally disqualified from the presidency as a result of the events of January 6.”
Trump declined to participate in the debate, instead opting to participate in an interview moderated by Tucker Carlson that aired five minutes before the debate began.
Donald Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson had reached over 150 million viewers early Thursday morning, giving huge impetus to his attempt to steal the spotlight from Fox News’ presidential debate.
The 45-minute session of the former President on
Trump has called his critics “savages,” spoken openly about the possible death of 80-year-old President Biden, and ranted about low-flow showerheads and electric cars.
He said he didn’t take part in the debate because he was “50 and 60 points ahead” in the polls and didn’t “want to be hassled by people who shouldn’t even be running for president.”
The first Republican primary debate descended into chaos on Wednesday night
Eventually the debate descended into chaos, and Vivek Ramaswamy was labeled an “amateur” and a “newbie”.
Ron DeSantis tried to stay out of the crossfire by focusing the attacks on President Biden and announcing how he would handle the border crisis.
Mike Pence said he would support a federal abortion ban, while Chris Christie was booed for saying Trump’s behavior was “unworthy” of the presidency.
The debate got so chaotic that Fox News anchor Bret Baier reminded the candidates, “We need to re-establish some ground rules.” When we hear that bell, your time is up. We appreciate your aggressiveness here. 30 seconds is 30 seconds.’
Toward the end of the evening, as the shouting continued and the contestants descended into a lightning-fast question and answer session, Nikki Haley implored the moderators, “You have to take control of this debate.”