Trump’s PAC-funded Smithsonian portrait remains on track — despite jailhouse mugshot

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, former President Donald Trump got a new mugshot.

His official presidential portrait, destined for a Smithsonian Institution museum, remains on track, too, Raw Story has learned.

An official for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery confirmed to Raw Story that Trump’s litany of felony charges has not altered the museum’s plans to facilitate, unveil and display official portraits for Trump and former first lady Melania Trump.

Also unchanged: The portraits are primarily funded by a $650,000 “charitable contribution” from Trump-tied political committee Save America PAC, which a federal grand jury is investigating for fundraising off false assertions that widespread voter fraud invalidated the 2020 election.

RELATED ARTICLE: Trump PAC lauded by Smithsonian for its 'generous support': government documents

Save America PAC has meanwhile served as Trump’s chief fundraising vehicle to cover tens of millions of dollars in legal fees associated with his criminal defense. Trump is now grappling with 91 felony counts across four separate cases — two in Washington, one in New York City and one in Fulton County, Ga. Trump on Thursday posted $200,000 bail after his formal booking on 13 counts related to his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

“Nothing has changed in that regard since you last reported on the matter,” said National Portrait Gallery spokesperson Concetta Duncan, adding that there is still “no set time” for the official unveiling of Trump’s portrait.

In May, Raw Story revealed that Smithsonian officials lauded Save America PAC for its “generous support” and, because they were “grateful,” promised Trump officials perks in exchange for the PAC’s money.

ALSO READ: 'A little too close for comfort': Why did the National Archives disappear this Trump photo?

"To recognize this generous support, the Smithsonian will recognize Save America on the object labels that will be displayed alongside the portraits when they are on exhibition and alongside images of the portraits on the NPG website," National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet and Assistant Secretary for Advancement Robert J. Spiller wrote on May 11 to Save America PAC treasurer Bradley Crate, according to a letter obtained by Raw Story through a Freedom of Information Act request.

"In addition, Save America will be recognized in the commemorative program for, and remarks delivered at, the unveiling ceremony and provided with invitations and reserved seating for 10 guests to attend the event,” the letter to Crate continues.

The letter further states that Save America will have the "opportunity to arrange a private viewing of the portraits for up to five guests." Save America PAC would also be honored in the text of the Smithsonian's annual report.

The letter did note that Save America PAC would not be allowed to use the Smithsonian and National Portrait Gallery logos and other branding in the PAC's "products" or "product packaging," or in "advertising, promotion, publicity, or fund-raising" without Smithsonian approval.

"Just an update that we're seeing tons of angry tweets about the Trump portrait, from small and huge accounts," Smithsonian social media official Erin Blasco wrote to several colleagues. "People do not seem to understand, of course, that we have portraits of all the presidents. They're upset that we're getting a Trump portrait but also there are plenty of people upset that this counts as a 'donation,' especially since their fundraising practices have been criticized."

Among the tweets Smithsonian officials shared with each other, per their emails:

"Nice to see that @smithsonian is in bed with a Nazi pedophile wanna-be tyrant. Donation or bribe ?"

"This is f*cking infuriating."

"This is not how museums are supposed to work."

"Why would the Smithsonian even hang anything with that treasonous pig? Unless the exhibit talks about the crimes, abuse of power, and a portrait of Narcissism!"

"It's disturbing to hear that the Smithsonian is accepting so much money from Trump's Save America PAC, which has been using what Business Insider calls 'aggressive and deceptive' solicitations to squeeze money from the faithful."

The National Portrait Gallery houses a complete collection of presidential portraits.

Smithsonian officials have, however, declined to release the names of the artists who are slated to paint the Trumps’ portraits.

"Two different artists. Again, we really don’t want to get into the names," Duncan advised colleagues in an Aug. 22, 2022, email.

"We are not sharing any information about the artists at this time," National Portrait Gallery Director of Advancement Usha Subramanian emphasized in another email the same day.


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Secretary of State Marco Rubio was subject to internet mockery Wednesday when he a reporter pressed him to make a startling admission.

Rubio, appearing at a news conference in the Philippines, was asked if he had discussed with the Chinese foreign minister President Donald Trump's claim that the country had interfered with U.S. elections.

"Was there an agreement on election interference during your talk with the Chinese foreign minister?" a reporter asked.

Rubio responded, "We didn't discuss that topic."

Trump's speech, during which he aired his pet conspiracy theory that the 2020 election results were rigged, has been widely panned.

Critics have noted the documents he declassified don't provide any evidence that China successfully altered vote totals or even attempted to do so.

Rubio's answer also earned swift mockery from commenters on social media, since Trump's primetime address on Chinese election interference on Thursday night was broadly seen as staking out the issue as a massive priority for the administration.

Author Anthony M. Hopper replied with sarcasm, asking, "How many clowns can one fit into a White House?

The Tennessee Holler, a progressive news site, wrote in response, "All the evidence you need that Trump’s primetime speech was a giant hot air lie intended only to set up the theft of the next election is right here in this brief clip."

Former Los Angeles Times senior editorial writer Michael McGough, rather cryptically, wrote, "Oh."

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President Donald Trump took to social media Wednesday to issue Iran a new threat, one that involved the possibility of war crimes.

“From this point forward," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, "any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran."

Under international law, deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure like bridges and power plants is unlawful in most cases, with narrow exemptions only for targets that make a direct contribution to military action.

Throughout the duration of the deeply unpopular U.S. war against Iran, Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure multiple times, including Iranian bridges, power plants and water treatment facilities. He also threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilization, a genocidal threat he ultimately walked back from that ignited global panic.

The Strait of Hormuz – a critical shipping waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil trade historically flowed – has been declared “closed” by Iran since last week, sending oil prices surging.

When Trump made similar threats to power plants in March, Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International warned it would violate international law.

"Given that such power plants are essential for meeting the basic needs and livelihoods of tens of millions of civilians, attacking them would be disproportionate and thus unlawful under international humanitarian law, and could amount to a war crime," Guevara-Rosas said.

“By threatening such strikes, the USA is effectively indicating its willingness to plunge an entire country into darkness, and to potentially deprive its people of their human rights to life, water, food, healthcare and adequate standard of living, and to subject them to severe pain and suffering."

First Lady Melania Trump received words of support from "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday night as reports circulated that she's going rogue.

Actor Colman Domingo, filling in for Kimmel, focused his opening monologue on Michael Wolff's report that President Donald Trump’s third wife has the White House terrified that she will break ranks.

“Almost nobody near Trump—including Trump himself—knows Melania’s moves until she makes them,” Wolff reported. “His wife, freer now and more distant than she ever has been from him in their marriage, is a wild card that he can’t seem to control or even game.”

That was enough for Domingo to join in on the speculation.

“White House staffers are terrified of Melania’s unpredictability -- and they’re right," Domingo said. "Melania is very unpredictable. I mean, will she wear black? Beige? A crazy hat? Or an even crazier hat? The possibilities are endless.”

“Apparently, the White House is worried because Melania has a tendency to go rogue and they have no idea what she’ll do next," he continued before suggesting, “Well, Melania, if you’re watching, I don’t know what crazy s—t you’re cooking up. But I think I speak for all of us when I say: Live your truth! Do it, girl!"

This suggestion was met with applause.

- YouTubeyoutu.be

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