Hoodies, swimsuits, sweatpants, and other clothing Senate Republicans should wear this week
Christopher Tremoglie
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Senate Republicans have been presented with a golden opportunity to mock Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision to abandon all dignity and standards and eliminate the Senate’s dress code.
Initially, I wrote about how the GOP should show up in hoodies and shorts, the frequent attire of Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), but after this weekend, I decided Republicans should take it a step or two further. Fetterman, of course, was the main reason for the fashion change.
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Recent artificial intelligence images were circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a sardonic fashion to mock Schumer’s decision. One of the images was of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) appearing barefoot and in a red bathrobe, sitting on marble steps. “Giving the Democrats a taste of their own medicine,” someone remarked about the image of Paul.
“I thought I was clear when I said no photographs,” Paul joked on his X account.
Paul may have been joking, and the images were posted in jest. However, it’s indicative of the absurdity of the entire thing and reflective of the depths to which Republicans should sink in a satirical rebuke of eliminating the dress code. Merely stating opposition and outrage is not enough. Every senator who opposed this decision must make a statement — a fashion statement.
It could continue all week or all month. One day, they wear swimsuits. The next, they could wear jeans and a T-shirt. And then they could follow that with wearing sweatpants and a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt.
Previously, I spoke with political commentator Mary Walter about the dress code change. She posted what millions of others probably thought about the dress code decision on X.
“Am I the only one who wants to see every Republican show up in the Senate dressed like Fetterman & do it until Schumer figures out what a dumb idea it is to normalize dressing like an 8th-grade boy? I’m picturing Chuck Grassley in an oversized hoodie & shorts,” Walter posted.
However, after seeing the AI images, as mentioned above, it’s clear the GOP must take it further. Imagine one day, Republicans showed up in hoodies. Then, the next day, they showed up in bathrobes. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) discussed wearing a bikini. I say go for it, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) should wear swim trunks. Any absurd idea they should put into action as a rebuke to Schumer and Fetterman. The more ridiculous attire, the better.
“If Sen. Fetterman is incapable of dressing like an adult, then in my opinion, he has no business being a senator. When you think about it, dressing like an adult is a pretty low bar. If he can’t tie a tie, we can all send him clip-ons,” Walter told me.
“Part of me thinks Schumer did it to poke Republicans because he knows they’ll just seethe silently,” Walter added. “He may also be signaling to the Gen Z voters that Democrats are cool like them. It’ll probably work. Democrats never miss an opportunity to mock Republicans, and they know Republicans will just take it and never counterpunch.”
This perception is even more of a reason Republicans shouldn’t let this go. It’s been a week, and so far, all they have done is make statements on television networks and different political shows. In today’s political climate, with the contemporary rabid left-wing political base, that is not going to cut it. Republicans must do more.
“The only people who could make that point are the Senate Republicans, and they just don’t have the ability. They’re inflexible,” Walter said. “The messaging game has changed, and they refuse to accept that and play by the new rules. Republicans may not like the way the Democrats play, but they are winning, and have been winning, the messaging war for more than a decade. Republicans need to think the way Democrats do.”
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Public statements are all great, and so is appearing on Fox News programs with Jesse Watters and Sean Hannity. But can anyone remember what any Republican said last week on any program? The answer, of course, is no.
However, showing up to the Senate in a bathrobe would be memorable. So would appearing in a bathing suit, sweatpants, or a T-shirt. All of it would be quite the picture, and as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. And they are the kind of words the country needs to see from Republicans right now.