Internet in splits as Donald Trump claims he was 'tortured' in Fulton County jail

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump is using his brief time in the Fulton County Jail as a fundraising opportunity, claiming he was "tortured" during his stay.

His campaign is offering a sale of "limited edition" coffee cups featuring his mugshot taken in August 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Donald Trump's mugshot and fundraising efforts

The historic mugshot taken on August 24, 2024, made Trump the first US president to have one taken.

He was booked, fingerprinted, and photographed, with the entire process taking about 20 minutes after he surrendered.

This mugshot has become a focal point of his campaign's efforts to turn his legal troubles into political leverage.

Trump boasted about his mugshot by breaking into X, formally Twitter, after a long halt of around two years. He hasn't posted anything on social media networking since despite Elon Musk lifting his ban. 

Trump's email urged supporters to remember his alleged mistreatment, saying, "I want you to remember what they did to me. They tortured me in the Fulton County Jail, and TOOK MY MUGSHOT. So guess what? I put it on a mug for the WHOLE WORLD TO SEE!"

The same email campaign promoting the coffee mugs was also sent in May, using similar language about being "tortured," The Hill noted.

Donald Trump's legal troubles in Georgia

Trump's legal battles extend beyond the Georgia case. He was also convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Despite these legal issues, his campaign continues to use them as a rallying point for his supporters.

The mugshot was taken when he was indicted in the case in August last on racketeering and other related charges stemming from his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.

The case has been put on hold as an appeals court reviews a lower court judge’s ruling.

This ruling would allow Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to stay on the case after her romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor raised ethics concerns.

Internet reacts to Donald Trump's torture claims

Internet users have been quick to ridicule Trump's torture claims. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Immoral, lying, and convicted felon! Republicans should be ashamed of having this despicable person as their Presidential candidate!"

Another user questioned the timeline, asking, "So please tell. When was this man in jail??"

Others took a more sarcastic approach. "He will say anything to get your money," one wrote, while another added, "So the secret service allowed him to be tortured?"

Mocking Trump's claim, another user said, "What a fat liar." The sentiment was echoed by others, with one noting, "It's all lies with this guy."

Some internet users joked about the conditions Trump allegedly endured. One commented, "The flash on the camera used to take his booking mug shot hurt his delicate eyes."

Another quipped, "Funny how you fail to mention that he never saw the inside of a cell." The ridicule continued with a user jesting, "He was forced to use a toilet that wasn't made of gold."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.