Trump hangs out with bald eagle named ‘Uncle Sam’

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is seen holding a bald eagle named “Uncle Sam” in photos that accompany a TIME magazine cover story released Thursday. 

With Trump sporting a campaign slogan of “Make America Great Again,” photographer Martin Schoeller floated the idea of adding the national bird to the shoot. 

“Mr. Trump liked that idea,” Schoeller told TIME. “I thought he might be open to it considering he’s a man who loves attention. He likes controversy, and he likes to be in the spotlight.”

Behind the scenes video with “Uncle Sam” (eagle’s name) and me. https://t.co/pOXbchdHbd

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2015

The American bald eagle was flown in from Texas for the shoot in Trump’s office on the 25th floor of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, according to the magazine. 

“Donald Trump is an icon, and this bald eagle is an icon,” Uncle Sam’s owner said. 

Had a special visitor in my office yesterday for @TIME photo shoot. pic.twitter.com/GoloYLeRZz

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2015

In the cover story, Trump takes shots at several other GOP candidates, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, as well as Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner.