Former President Donald Trump has come under fire after a photo emerged of him handing a “White House key” to former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. The incident took place at Trump Tower on Tuesday, just hours after Trump left a Manhattan criminal court where he is facing trial for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments.
The photo shows Trump and Aso, the deputy head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, beaming into the camera. The “key” that Trump is handing to Aso is a golden replica of the White House key. Many have criticized Trump for pretending to be president and for using the “key” as a prop.
“Not sure what gives him the right to do this,” wrote NBC executive Mike Sington on Twitter. “Probably Citizen Trump once again pretending to be President.”
“Did he steal that key?” replied another Twitter user. “Only a lunatic like Trump would do this.”
Trump’s New York City trial is one of three in which prosecutors contend he broke the law to claim residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. While Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg focuses on Trump’s initial White House bid, special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis levied charges linked to the 2020 loss he baselessly has claimed was a victory.
The photo-op with Aso has drawn mockery from those who believe Trump is clinging to the presidency.
“Still pretending to be president,” replied William Buecker on Twitter. “This is actually kind of sad.”
“He will never let go,” added another Twitter user. “He believes he is president for life.”
Another viewer poked fun at Trump’s recent bids to funnel funds into dwindling campaign coffers that have included selling $59.99 Bibles and $399 golden sneakers.
“I’m guessing he’ll sell Trump keys soon at $39.95,” replied a Twitter user, referencing the bizarre “covfefe” typo that Trump made in a tweet in 2017.
Legal experts have also raised questions about whether Trump’s actions could be considered a violation of his gag order in the criminal case. The gag order bars Trump from “commenting or causing others to comment on potential witnesses in the case, prospective jurors, court staff, lawyers in the district attorney’s office and the relatives of any counsel or court staffer,” according to CBS News.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, has already warned Trump that he is “losing all credibility” with the court. If prosecutors believe that Trump’s photo-op with Aso violated the gag order, they could ask Merchan to hold Trump in contempt of court.
Trump has been criminally indicted in four separate cases and is facing a total of 88 felony charges, including 34 in this New York criminal trial for alleged falsification of business records to hide payments of “hush money” to an adult film actress and one other woman, in an alleged effort to suppress their stories and protect his 2016 presidential campaign, which experts say is election interference.
