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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President Donald Trump got the all-clear from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to deploy the Oregon National Guard to protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility in Portland — at least for the time being, while litigation continues over the matter.

The ruling was issued by a three-judge panel that included two of Trump's own appointees, Judges Ryan Nelson and Bridget Bade — overriding the decision to block the deployment made by District Judge Karin Immergut, herself a Trump appointee.

"The decision of how many troops to call into service has ... always fallen exclusively to the President," wrote Nelson in a concurrence. "But when proportionality is present, it supports that the President acted in good faith rather than pretextually. District courts must not micromanage the President’s use of statutory powers delegated to him under the Militia Clause."

Judge Susan Graber, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, wrote a dissent criticizing the majority for accepting the Trump administration's arguments when their claims did not support the law.

"The trigger for federalizing the National Guard is an inability to execute the laws, not staffing difficulties that fall short of demonstrably resulting in an inability to execute the laws," Graber wrote. "The government has not explained how its purported staffing troubles were causing an inability to execute the laws on September 27."

According to Texas reporter Bayliss Wagner, the Texas National Guard was not party to the appeal, so Gov. Greg Abbott's move to deploy them to Portland on Trump's behalf remains blocked for now.

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A leaked MAGA chat is revealing that a Trump administration nominee for a whistleblower agency has reportedly used a racist epithet in texts, called for MLK Jr. Day to be "tossed into the seventh circle of hell," and says he has "a Nazi streak," according to a Monday report from Politico.

Paul Ingrassia, who is slated for a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, is President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel. He reportedly made these comments in a group chat with about half a dozen Republican strategists and influencers.

“MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs,” Ingrassia wrote in January 2024, Politico reports.

A month later, he reportedly used an Italian slur for Black people and commented on multiple holidays:

“No moulignon holidays … From kwanza [sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth,” then added: “Every single one needs to be eviscerated.”

Politico talked to two people in the text chain, who declined to share their identities due to fears of retaliation. One of those sources saved the chats and shared them with Politico. The other confirmed they were authentic.

"The person said he came forward because he wants 'the government to be staffed with experienced people who are taken seriously,'" Politico reports.

One unnamed person in the chat said in May 2024, "Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon,” Politico reports.

Ingrassia apparently responded and allegedly said:

“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” he said, which prompted multiple people in the group text to push back on the comment.

Ingrassia's attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, told Politico that the texts were apparently jokes and also said he could not confirm if the messages were real.

“Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted. However, arguendo, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis,’” Paltzik told Politico in a written statement.

“In reality, Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi," Paltzik said.

President Donald Trump's video that dumps feces on America while wearing a crown has drawn criticism since it was posted, but even MSNBC host Katy Tur is commenting that there's no comparison.

Since the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, Republican officials and activists have complained that calling out neo-Nazis, white supremacists or fascism is what is contributing to the violence against the GOP.

Tur questioned comments Monday morning from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) alleging that the "No Kings" protests over the weekend that drew more than 7 million Americans were an indication of violence from Democrats. The marches were peaceful, the counterprotests were not, The New Republic reported.

"What do you think about what Donald Trump posted over the weekend of those protesters?" asked Tur to Republican commentator Brendan Buck.

"Well, I was actually pretty troubled about what Speaker Johnson said," confessed Buck, who previously worked for two speakers of the House. "He keeps saying that these people hate America. I think these people aren't really my cup of tea, or my flavor, I suppose. But they don't hate America. They're doing something that is quintessentially American."

Tur noted that there's "downplaying" the millions of protesters across the country, "and then there's posting a video where it appears you're dropping feces all over a crowd of people, and — I mean, I'm not saying you endorse that, Brendan! I know. But, it does — it makes the 'deplorables' comment from Hillary Clinton look tasteful and tame in comparison."

During the 2016 election season, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that "half" of Trump's followers are "racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic" characterizing them as a "basket of deplorables."

Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) thinks that Trump "over reacted with the vulgar posting because he knows this is problematic. He knows that he is failing."

David Graham, of The Atlantic, said that the real strength of the "No Kings" protest is that it isn't institutionalized by a specific party.

"It's a message that we oppose monarchy, that we want checks and balances. We want the things that Americans have been committed to for a very long time. So, I think that's a strength."

He added, "saying King Trump with a crown doesn't exactly disprove the point."

"Yeah, Donald Trump is always one to run toward a controversy and to try and embrace it in order to diminish its power, which is why he was wearing that crown," said Tur.

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