• The official portraits of Donald Trump and JD Vance have been released ahead of their inauguration.
• Trump's portrait bears a striking resemblance to his mugshot taken in August 2023.
• Both men are depicted in formal attire, with Trump showing a serious expression and Vance smiling.
• The portraits will be available for sale and will be displayed in federal buildings and US embassies.
• This inauguration marks Trump’s second non-consecutive term in office.

The release of the official portraits for US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance took place on Thursday, just days before their inauguration on January 20, 2024. Trump's portrait has drawn significant attention due to its resemblance to his mugshot from August 2023, captured at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia. In the image, Trump is seen glaring at the camera with a serious demeanor, contrasting sharply with Vance’s relaxed pose, where he smiles with his arms crossed, both men dressed in dark blue suits and ties (BBC). The Trump transition team stated in a press release that the portraits "go hard," highlighting their intent to make a strong visual statement ahead of the upcoming ceremony.

Unlike his 2017 portrait, where Trump was captured smiling broadly, this new portrayal features him with a downward tilt of his head and a pressed-lips expression. Vance, at 40, is confirmed as the third-youngest vice-president in US history, while Trump will make history by becoming the second president to have non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland from the late 1800s. Both portraits will hang in federal buildings and US embassies globally, maintaining a tradition of displaying presidential images worldwide. Additionally, they will also be available for public purchase (SCMP).