The real winners of the never-ending Trump psychodrama

The release of former President Donald Trump’s mug shot last week, which plastered his faux-tough guy grimace across every screen in America, did more to solidify his position within the Republican Party than anything he could have done on his own. Indeed, the ongoing persecution and prosecution of Trump is more useful to his political prospects than if he’d bought a Big Mac for every worker in Iowa and kissed every baby in New Hampshire.

There's even speculation the photo will earn him more endorsements from celebrity rappers than he’s already received — Benny the Butcher pledged his vote for Trump following the release, joining Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Pump, DaBaby, and of course, Kanye West. For a guy whose only “get out of jail free” card is a White House win, the free media generated by the widely circulated mug shot is pure music.