Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
President’s Style Stresses Symbolism in First 100 Days
The tumultuous **start** of President Trump’s tenure — with traditional practices disrupted, levies imposed and then deferred, and legal clashes — has had one steady element. A consistent visual appeal has become emblematic of the administration’s values and **second-term** campaign promises.
President Trump’s cultivation of his personal brand has been so pervasive that it has become emblematic of his leadership. The same holds true for those around him: cabinet members, top advisors, and family. Collectively, they convey, as notable as any decree, the ideals the president purports to uphold.
In an era dominated by the endless, **”short-form”** digital feed, where images take precedence and the president offers an unfiltered view, attire has taken center stage. Outfits act as companions to executive orders challenging conventions and legal boundaries. While less significant than these actions, attire remains a key component of the broader narrative.
**The Visuals of Power**
The initial **100-day mark** of the Trump presidency is partly defined by an administration where appearance is as critical as substance. In this realm, gender dynamics are underscored by garments and hairstyles, while commands are enacted through official decrees.
The Secretary of Defense has constructed a dressing room at the Pentagon for public appearances, and the Ukrainian leader’s refusal to wear a suit in the Oval Office symbolized his resistance to concessions. Clothing has become a silent, telling indicator of loyalty, an unmistakable trait.
Issues aside, the Trump administration is strategic in its sartorial choices, despite occasional eccentricities. The underlying message is clear: disregard what you read or hear; believe your eyes.
**Patriotic Apparel**
Trump’s signature ensemble — a blue suit, white shirt, and red tie — has become almost uniform-like. This style has been widely adopted by male administration officials, especially during major public addresses. For instance, JD Vance wore this outfit for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and it was sported by House Speaker Mike Johnson during the presidential address to Congress. Even the FBI director wore it for his confirmation hearing.
This implicit patriotism is outshone by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who takes the practice of wearing a flag lapel pin to new levels by donning an Old Glory pocket square with his blue suits, signifying a pledge of aesthetic allegiance.
**Opulent Imagery**
Such red-white-and-blue attire, however, paves the way for more extravagant presentations. Kid Rock’s Oval Office visit, in a jumpsuit adorned with an excessively patriotic design, seemed more fitting for an Uncle Sam impersonator contest than a presidential meeting.
Trump’s return to opulence comes as he states he’s making America rich again. Not only did he announce a new Golden Age, but he also embodies it. As he posted on Truth Social, “HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES.”
The inauguration balls featured Trump family members in elaborate gowns reminiscent of the original Gilded Age. The Oval Office underwent a revamp with gold damask furnishings and ornate wall decorations in gold frames. Melania Trump’s official portrait, in stark tuxedo, epitomized this opulence. Similarly, homeland security Secretary Kristi Noem wore a $50,000 gold Rolex.
**Faithful Attire**
Gold crosses worn by several women in the executive branch reinforce the administration’s emphasis on spirituality. These crosses glitter prominently on Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. This imagery is further amplified by the frequent displays of devotion, such as bowed heads and clasped hands at meetings.
**Propaganda in Uniforms**
Observe Secretary Noem dressed as an ICE agent, or FBI Director Kash Patel in his windbreaker, or JD Vance in Army fatigues. These choices range from **disruptive** fashion to literal and metaphorical camouflage. Mrs. Trump adopted a similar approach with an Army green ensemble during disaster relief visits.
They all follow President Trump, whose combative image — featuring a stern chin, set jaw, and piercing eyes — is his go-to pose. This image was replicated in his official inaugural portrait and Truth Social profile. Even his defiant gesture after the Butler, Pennsylvania, incident was memorialized in a painting that hangs in the White House.
**The Elon Musk Phenomenon**
Zelensky may have faced criticism for his attire in the Oval Office, but **Silicon Valley magnate** Elon Musk was lauded for his casual attire. This disparity highlights how rejecting traditional norms fits the administration’s narrative of disruption. Musk’s dark mirror reflection of Trump’s ethos—his black MAGA hat, jeans, blazer, and logo tees — reflects the bold, nonconformist spirit of the administration.
Presidents’ stylistic choices at **CPAC** are less jokes than messages from the administration’s early days of harnessing power through strategic visuals.