Democrats wore pink, and other fashion statements at Trump’s speech

Washington: Many Democratic women in Congress wore pink to Tuesday night’s joint session of Congress in protest of US President Donald Trump’s policies and their effect on American women.

“The press often pays attention to what women wear, for good or for bad,” said Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, the chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “So we want to wear this colour to raise the alarm about the negative impacts his policies are having on women.”

“Our safety and security is at risk. They are cutting the programs to protect women who have suffered from rape, from domestic violence, from abuse,” Leger Fernandez told The Washington Post. Women are also, Leger Fernandez noted, the grocery shoppers in many American households, and with the recent implementation of Trump’s tariffs on imported goods, “he’s making life more expensive for us”.

Democratic members of Congress wear pink to protest Donald Trump during his address to Congress.Credit: AP

At several high-profile political events in recent years – such as the Democratic National Convention and the State of the Union address in 2024 – Democratic women have organised to wear white as a show of unity and in homage to the suffragists who won women the right to vote in 1919. Some women in the chamber wore white at the joint-session address on Tuesday night, continuing tradition.

This time around, the colour pink was chosen not just because it’s harder to miss or because it’s traditionally associated with femininity. “Pink has been used as a colour of protest against Trump,” Leger Fernandez said, referring to the pink hats worn at the inaugural Women’s March in 2017. “Pink has also been used as a colour of protest against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

Leger Fernandez wore a magenta blazer, a pale pink blouse, a pink belt, pleated pink pants (bought on consignment, a spokeswoman noted) and a button that read, “Betrayed for Billionaires”.

US congresswoman Nydia Velazquez joined her colleagues in protest pink.Credit: AP

The collective effort among Democratic members of Congress materialised swiftly – and recently. “Women are flexible and nimble,” Leger Fernandez said with a laugh, hours before the joint session. “Suitcases were packed. People went to consignment stores. They shared clothes with each other … We are sharing the colour of pink with each other even as we speak.”

Some other notable looks were:

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s hat

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene arrives before US President Donald Trump’s address.Credit: AP

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wore a red Trump hat into the chamber – not with the traditional “Make America Great Again” slogan on it, but instead a “Trump Was Right About Everything!” across the front and a “45-47” on its side. Trump patted it approvingly on his way into the chamber.

Democrats’ ‘no king’ shirts

A few Democratic members of Congress wore black T-shirts protesting Trump’s expansion of his own executive powers. Congressman Maxwell Frost staged a walkout of the address. The back of his black shirt visibly read, “NO KINGS LIVE HERE”. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez , meanwhile, sat in the audience in a shirt that read, “NO KING. NO COUP.”

Blue and yellow for Ukraine

Several Democratic members of Congress appeared to signal their continuing support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. At least two blue-and-yellow striped ties were worn: Congressman Paul Tonko paired his with a “Medicaid Matters” button, while Congressman Jim Costa accessorised his with a pin juxtaposing the US and Ukrainian flags. Congresswoman Maggie Hassan wore a yellow blouse and blue blazer.

Elon Musk in a suit

Elon Musk arrives ahead of Donald Trump’s address.Credit: AP

The South African billionaire and presidential adviser has lately been photographed wearing T-shirts and baseball caps while visiting Trump in the White House. Musk’s cleaned-up look, complete with a navy suit and a royal-blue tie – nary a pair of shades in sight – was a striking contrast to his Washington looks of late.

Usha Vance’s oversize peach blazer

Second lady Usha Vance (far left) and first lady Melania Trump (second right).Credit: AP

The relaxed shape of her suit was distinctly modern and trendy, not to mention somewhat androgynous – the kind of look a trailblazing female tech CEO might wear, especially with her hair back in an understated bun. At an event where many other Republican women sported their signature bouncy blowout curls, heavy eye make-up and decidedly traditional feminine silhouettes, the second lady looked like she was attending a different event entirely.

Trump’s purple tie

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.Credit: Bloomberg

The president’s usual red tie is such a mainstay that Trump bobbleheads always sport one, and James Austin Johnson wears one in every SNL sketch in which he plays the president. Trump has been experimenting a little lately, though, reprising this purple-tie look from his inauguration in January. Purple and other combinations of red and blue are often invoked in politics as gestures toward bipartisanship. Trump’s address itself, though, made clear this red-and-blue-checked tie was just a tie.

This article originally appeared in The Washington Post.