A 9-Year-Old Asked for a Trump Tattoo – What She Got Instead Left Her in Tears!

A tattoo artist in Arizona is facing heated criticism for tattooing a 9-year-old girl, despite his claim that he acted in her best interest. Sosa, co-owner of Black Onyx Empire Tattoo in Yuma, insists he doesn’t endorse tattooing children and only went through with the procedure to prevent a worse outcome.

The controversy began when the girl, accompanied by her parents and sister, entered the shop in May. She initially requested a tattoo of President-elect Donald Trump on her neck. Sosa, recognizing the permanence of such a decision, attempted to dissuade the family by quoting an exorbitant price of $500 for what would typically cost $80. However, the family remained firm, leading Sosa to steer them toward a less conspicuous design: an American flag on her arm.

“I thought, ‘You know what, in a sterile, clean environment…’” Sosa told The Post. He explained that he feared another artist might agree to tattoo the Trump design on her neck under less hygienic conditions.

Heated Reactions from the Public

The decision has sparked an outcry online. In a YouTube video about the incident, commenters expressed outrage.

“Please no. As an artist, be the bigger person and don’t do this to a 9-year-old. Then call child services,” one wrote.

“I’m heavily tattooed and I believe anyone involved in this should be prosecuted and put in jail,” said another.

Critics called Sosa “disgusting” and demanded he be “ashamed” of himself. Many argued he should have refused the service altogether, regardless of parental consent.

Sosa Defends His Actions

Sosa, who says he has been inundated with threats and hate comments since sharing the story, insists his priority was the girl’s welfare.

“She was going to get it done regardless. She said it didn’t matter if I did it or someone else did it, she was going to get it done,” he explained. The parents’ readiness to pay the inflated price and their backstory influenced his decision.

“They were from Turkey, refugees who came here and wanted to express their gratitude to the United States,” Sosa said. He added that the girl’s older sister had also gotten a tattoo at the same age, making it seem like a cultural norm for the family.

“Do I think it’s right? No,” Sosa admitted, noting that this was his first—and last—time tattooing a child. “I’m not tattooing kids every day. I have three kids, and none of them have tattoos. There should be an age limit.”

A Divisive Issue in the Tattoo Industry

Despite his intentions, industry professionals have criticized Sosa, arguing that his actions damage the reputation of tattoo artists. Ben Shaw of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists told AZFamily: “It is one of the most frustrating things about our career field and in Arizona, where it has no regulations. If you see a 10-year-old child with a professional tattoo and they say they got it at a tattoo shop, that degrades us as a whole.”

Sosa believes the incident highlights a gap in the law and suggests stricter regulations. “I think laws should be made. I think a ‘Sosa Law’ should be made… There should be an age limit.”

The Aftermath

The incident underscores a troubling gray area in Arizona’s tattoo regulations, where minors can be tattooed with parental consent. While Sosa maintains that his decision came from a place of compassion, many in the public and professional sphere remain unconvinced, calling for changes that would prevent similar cases in the future.

As the debate rages on, the question lingers: should artists prioritize parental wishes, or is it their ethical responsibility to draw the line?