Don Jr. Asks Courtroom Artist to Make Him ‘Look Sexy’— Like Fake AI Sketch of Sam Bankman-Fried

The eldest Trump son seems to think a viral illustration of the crypto fraudster is real since he showed the artist the image and requested something similar.

By Susan Rinkunas | November 3, 2023 | 8:40pm

Politics

Don Jr. Asks Courtroom Artist to Make Him ‘Look Sexy’— Like Fake AI Sketch of Sam Bankman-Fried

Donald Trump Jr. had an urgent concern after he finished testifying Thursday in the civil fraud case against his father: The eldest Trump spawn wasn’t concerned about his father’s prospects, but rather he hoped the courtroom sketch artist would make him look…different. Veteran court illustrator Jane Rosenberg told Insider that Junior approached her after his testimony and said, “Make me look sexy.”

Not only that, Trump Jr. took out his phone to show her some dubious reference material—a viral illustration of crypto failboy Sam Bankman-Fried with a chiseled jawline and spiked hair, which is actually a fake. “He said, ‘Did you see the one they made of Sam Bankman-Fried? It made him look like a superstar.’ And he pulled out his phone and showed me,” Rosenberg said. “It’s fake. It’s AI.” (Later on Thursday, a Manhattan jury found Bankman-Fried guilty of seven criminal counts including wire fraud and conspiracy.)

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It’s unclear if Trump Jr. knew that Rosenberg was the same artist behind the notorious 2015 sketch of Tom Brady that made him look like a bridge troll and was asking her to go easier on him. But on Thursday evening, Junior posted that it was true that he made the request, noting, “seems like a reasonable ask.”

If you’re having trouble keeping track of all of President Donald Trump’s legal troubles, this is the civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) which alleges that Trump and his company deceived banks and insurers by massively overvaluing his assets and net worth in order to secure better terms. The case won’t result in a jail sentence, but it could mean Trump would no longer be able to do business in the state of New York. (Rosenberg has also drawn President Trump himself during an April hearing for his hush-money case—aka indictment number one of four.)

Don Jr. testified that, though he signed his father’s net worth statements, he didn’t prepare them and entrusted the company’s lawyers and accountants to make sure the information was correct.

All three Trump children who’ve been involved with the family business will have to testify; Eric Trump already took the stand and Ivanka Trump is set to be in court next week. Ivanka tried to argue that, since she lives in Florida with her family, it would be an “undue hardship” for her to fly to New York “in the middle of a school week.” Judge Arthur Engoron denied her request for a stay so she’s on the hook.

As for what Rosenberg eventually drew, Junior looks like a thumb—as it should be.