Donald Trump’s New Gray Hair Is Just His Latest Political Tactic - Vogue

If you tuned into President Donald Trump’s daily press briefing yesterday evening and got the sense that there was something different about him, you’re not alone. As he stood outside of the White House to update the country on the COVID-19 crisis, Trump—and yes, his hair—had Twitter abuzz.

To start, gusts of wind were once again having their way with his feathery crop, prompting him to address those long-standing rumors that he wears a toupee. “My hair is blowing around, and it’s mine,” said Trump. “That’s one thing you can’t get away with—if it’s not yours, then you’ve got a problem if you’re president.” While Trump’s need to make every situation about himself was no surprise, Twitter users were more intrigued by his conspicuous hair color change.

Overnight, Trump’s signature flaxen hair had been replaced by a new bright silver shade. Of course, a number of theories were floated about the motive behind his newly blanched hair. One Twitter user theorized that Trump was seeking a more dignified look for the 2020 race, which would certainly align with his brazen political strategizing in the face of a global crisis. Another wondered if it was a symptom of practicing social distancing and being unable to see his hair colorist. If it’s the latter, did Trump take matters into his own hands with a box of Just for Men? Or is it that, after ignoring public-health officials and downplaying the life-threatening nature of COVID-19, the stress of the situation is finally setting in and turning him gray?

Historian Alexis Coe, author of New York Times best seller You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, thinks the latter is unlikely. While Coe acknowledges the long-held truth that being president ages a person, she doesn’t believe Trump’s silver hair is a sudden physical manifestation of emotional strain as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the U.S. but rather a studied strategy. “What I think might be happening is a kind of manipulation of the American public in which he is attempting to show citizens that he is suffering as well,” she explains. “It’s about optics—Trump is trying to distract from his late, dangerous, and sometimes fatal messaging around coronavirus.”

If it’s a purposeful play, Trump would be tapping into historical precedent. Coe cites an instance in which George Washington showcased vulnerability as he faced rebellion at the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. “Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have grown not only gray but blind in the service of my country,” said Washington as he pulled out a pair of glasses while reading a letter aloud to his troop. “No one had ever seen him wear glasses, and his soldiers were incredibly moved by it,” explains Coe. “They interpreted it as a gesture [where] Washington was saying he understood their grievances and felt them too. It is one of the most well-known stories about Washington, and presidents tend to look to him for inspiration.” Still, Coe notes that because Trump appears to show no interest in presidential or American history, it’s unlikely he’s drawing from the past.

“Trump has had the same iconic look, this caricature of a businessman, for decades,” Coe adds. “He wants to be easily recognized in the same way a car salesman does, so this is a surprising departure for his brand.” If going gray was indeed Trump’s conscious choice, she’s almost certain the idea didn’t originate from him. “Trump is loath to change his physical appearance, so he likely listened to his aides who told him he needed to do something dramatic.”

A narrative contrivance that won’t be lost on many, Trump’s newly minted gray hair is just another way he’s showing his true colors amid catastrophic tragedy.

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March 31, 2020 at 11:34PM
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Donald Trump’s New Gray Hair Is Just His Latest Political Tactic - Vogue
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