DISCLAIMER: This article was first published on January 6, 2026
Recently, one photo changed the tone of Donald Trump’s day. It was taken during a speech to House Republicans at the Kennedy Center. Trump was in the middle of attacking transgender athletes when the camera caught him at just the wrong second.
His arms were thrown out. His eyes were wide. His tongue pushed forward. The stage lights hit his makeup hard, giving his face an odd green bronze look.
The image told its own story.
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Online reaction was instant. Commentators, writers, and political figures began sharing the photo with disbelief.
This is a real image. https://t.co/2Y8nP8eqbL
— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) January 6, 2026
He looks terrible. yellow
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 6, 2026
This is a real photo of Donald Trump. A national and global embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/TXs4o46gMn
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) January 6, 2026
Trump is a disgusting human being https://t.co/FBMWC1OUwG
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) January 6, 2026
This is a man who cannot lift himself out of a chair without using both hands; alternately, he rarely stands and lately, when he stands, he falls asleep standing.
Betting he can’t lift anything heavier than a Big Mac.— Larkin Warren (@LarkinWarren) January 6, 2026
the irony being that Trump went out of his way to praise the White House photographers this morning. https://t.co/4UdtUOKGuR
— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 6, 2026
Trump usually uses his appearance and loud gestures as part of his act. He mocks others, exaggerates things, and puts on a show to draw attention.
In politics today, images matter more than ever. Faces and expressions in photos can shape how people feel, often even more than words do, especially during big moments in a president’s term. Research shows that people read a lot of meaning into facial expressions and visual cues in political photos, and those visuals often drive online reaction and sentiment far beyond the original event.
Featured image via X screengrab
