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

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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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New poll suggests Trump's plan to defuse bitter GOP primary battle will fail

With the Texas Republican Senate primary advancing to a runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, President Donald Trump — who has stayed out of the race for months — is being pushed by his advisers to make an endorsement.

But a new poll released on Thursday suggest if he does, it might matter less than he thinks.

The poll, issued by Blueprint, was flagged on X by former GOP strategist Tim Miller, and tested how the current state of the race would change if Trump endorsed either Cornyn, which appears to be what Senate Republicans want him to do, or Paxton. And what the poll found, Miller wrote, is that it "barely impacts the race" — no matter what happens, Paxton is leading.

The baseline result of the poll is that Paxton leads Cornyn 48-36 among current primary voters. The poll then tested what would happen if Trump endorsed Cornyn, in which case the race shifts to 44-37 Paxton — a shift in Cornyn's favor, but only a small one and not likely to decide the race.

The one case in which a Trump endorsement does appear to make a difference is if he instead endorses Paxton. In that polled scenario, the result is much more dramatic, with Paxton then leading 56-28 — but obviously, the winner of the election is unchanged.

Earlier this week, Trump suggested that if he endorses in the Texas Senate runoff, the candidate who doesn't get the endorsement should drop out of the race, which, if done early enough, would cancel the runoff and automatically hand the nomination to the remaining candidate under Texas state law.

However, Paxton made clear in an interview on Wednesday that if Trump endorses Cornyn, he's not leaving: "I’m staying in this race. I owe it to the people of Texas." He did, however, offer to drop his candidacy if Congress passes a stalled voter suppression bill Trump has been pushing aggressively.

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Possible 'military insider' bets big Trump will send US troops into Iran

A suspicious betting account on the prediction market website Polymarket appears poised to win big if President Donald Trump deploys U.S. troops to Iran this month.

PredictFolio, a trading analytics platform, flagged an account called "BulkeyBull" that purchased more than 69,000 shares, predicting that U.S. forces would enter Iran before March 31. The analytics platform said the account could win more than $100,000 if the bet pays out.

Over the last month, the same account has made several similar predictions, winning more than $90,000 in the process.

PredictFolio suggested the account could be controlled by a "military insider," noting that it has changed its name multiple times.

The account also correctly predicted that the Trump administration would strike Iran before the end of February, and that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be removed as Iran's leader.

Prediction markets have become a sore topic for the Trump administration. There have been massive bets placed on strange items like whether the Trump administration would reveal the existence of alien life and what Trump would say during his address to the nation in December 2025. The bets have fueled speculation that Trump administration insiders are behind the bets.

Trump's White House ballroom deluged in backlash

President Donald Trump's controversial White House ballroom project is facing massive public opposition, with 97 percent of over 35,000 comments filed with the National Capital Planning Commission opposing the plan. Trump demolished the East Wing without following regular procedures to make room for the massive structure, which is more than twice the size of the central White House building. The project's cost continues escalating, with Trump pledging private donations to fund construction, though this raises conflicts of interest concerns. Public comments range from criticism of the unauthorized $300 million expenditure to concerns about destroying historic President's Park. Even Trump supporters are objecting. Jim Cunningham, a Pennsylvania GOP leader who voted for Trump three times, stated the White House "belongs to the American people" and "isn't his personal property." The ballroom is one of several grand Trump tribute projects planned.

Watch the video below.

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