Politicians Wear Pink Clothing and Statement T-shirts in Opposition to President Trump’s Speech to Congress
President Donald Trump’s lengthy address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night at the U.S. Capitol had its share of protests from legislators with several using clothing to signal their disapproval of the current administration’s policies and budgetary cuts.
Representative Leger Fernandez of New Mexico led a group of female legislators in criticizing Trump’s stance in women’s rights by wearing apparel in varying shades of pink. Before attendees entered the House chamber, she and her supporters rallied outside and spoke of the importance of women’s rights. Standing before a podium that was imprinted with “Trump Betrays Women for Billionaire Tax Cuts,” they wore blazers, skirts, pantsuits and other garments in hot pink, pale pink, Millennial pink, Barbie pink and salmon.
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While addressing the media, Fernandez said, “He costs us too much in terms of money, health, lives and safety. From cradle to old age, this man and the Republican agenda is devastating for women. We want the world to know that we stand in protest, we stand in power, we stand in pink and we stand in opposition.”
Female politicians and voters have used pink in the past to signal their opposition to Trump. Thousands wore apparel and beanies for the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C., which coincided with POTUS’ first inauguration weekend. During a few of Trump’s prior State of the Union addresses, female politicians including Nancy Pelosi donned all-white ensembles as a nod to the women’s suffragette movement and the ongoing fight for gender equality. White, purple and yellow were used by the National Women’s Party as they worked to secure women’s right to vote. Some wore all-white cotton dresses for “suffragette parades.” The three colors were also used for banners, sashes, badges, pamphlets and other materials that signaled the cause.
There was plenty of time Tuesday night for attendees to watch the bipartisan protests unfold. At nearly one hour and 40 minutes, Trump’s speech was reportedly the longest presidential address before a joint session of Congress in modern history, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of California at Santa Barbara, which has been tracking presidential speeches since Lyndon B. Johnson held the office in 1964.
Early on, Democratic Representative Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber after disrupting Trump’s speech by shouting and shaking his cane in the air. Other members of his party including Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett took it upon themselves to walk out, during Trump’s address. Before exiting she removed her jacket to reveal a black T-shirt imprinted with “RESIST” in white lettering. Congressman Maxwell Frost also had a parting look. He removed his blazer to show the T-shirt that was layered over his white buttoned-down shirt that read “No Kings Live Here.” Other attendees used accessories – of sorts – to relay their disapproval of some of Trump’s views. They periodically held up small circular signs that were imprinted with “FALSE,” “SAVE MEDICAID,” and “ELON STEALS.” The latter appeared to be a reference to tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading up the administration’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. The SpaceX and Tesla founder was singled out by Trump, during his address. Musk had dressed up for the occasion in a blue suit, white shirt and skinny tie, having ditched the baseball cap and T-shirt that he routinely wears to the White House.
Business attire, as in whether or not to wear a suit, has been a matter of much public debate, and discourse, in recent days, after Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky chose to not wear one for a Feb. 28 meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. Sticking with his unofficial uniform of military-style casual attire, the Ukrainian leader’s preferred look is an act of solidarity to the Ukrainian soldiers, who are defending their country against Russian forces. After being criticized by Trump and Vice President JD Vance about his dressed-down appearance last week in front of the media, Zelensky explained he would wear a suit once the war ends. The Ukrainian designer Elvira Gasanova, who created his attire and provides the majority of his wardrobe, commended that decision Sunday.
Tuesday night some politicians like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also sported blue and yellow accessories in support of Ukraine, which recently had its military aide paused by the Trump administration. Yellow and blue are the primary colors in the country’s national flag.
First Lady Melania Trump’s appeared to play things safe with her fashion choice for Tuesday night’s address at the U.S. Capitol. She turned up in a dark caviar gray skirt suit from Dior.
Melania Trump in Dior, Ivanka Trump in Oscar de la Renta, Usha Vance Suits Up and More Outfits at Trump’s Address to Congress [PHOTOS]
Launch Gallery: Melania Trump in Dior, Ivanka Trump in Oscar de la Renta, Usha Vance Suits Up and More Outfits at Trump's Address to Congress [PHOTOS]
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