Many Democratic women in Congress wore pink to Tuesday night’s joint session of Congress in protest of 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 Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-New Mexico), the chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “So we want to wear this color 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.”
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 organized 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 color 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 color 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 color 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.”
The collective effort among Democratic members of Congress materialized 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 color of pink with each other even as we speak.”
Some other notable looks are below.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s hat
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) 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. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Florida) staged a walkout of the address. The back of his black shirt visibly read, “NO KINGS LIVE HERE.” Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Illinois), 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: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-New York) paired his with a “Medicaid Matters” button, while Rep. Jim Costa (D-California) accessorized his with a pin juxtaposing the U.S. and Ukrainian flags. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) wore a yellow blouse and blue blazer.
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
The relaxed shape of this suit is 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 makeup and decidedly traditional feminine silhouettes, the second lady looked like she was attending a different event entirely.
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.
