Last night, the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place in Washington, D.C. As usual, the annual event—which raises funds for the WHCA, an organization of journalists that covers the White House—saw a bevy of politicians and celebrities show up for the affair, including names such as president Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris, and actors Scarlett Johansson and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. On the red carpet before the dinner kicked off, all attendees posed for photographers while dressed up in their best formal attire, adhering to the evening’s black tie dress code. But it was senator John Fetterman who had the Internet divided with his look: The politician took an unconventional approach to wearing a tuxedo.
Fetterman—a Democratic senator for Pennsylvania since 2023—turned heads when he showed up for the dinner in a gray Carhartt hoodie printed with an image of a bowtie on it. He sported it with gym shorts and high-top sneakers. In a sea of suits and tuxedos, his decision to rebuke the dress code and take a more tongue-in-cheek approach to dressing up had opinions divided.
Some applauded his efforts to shake up the red carpet and maintain his individuality. (Technically, he was in black tie.) “It brings me a lot of joy to see John Fetterman in his tuxedo T-shirt at a silly black tie event,” wrote one X user. “I support his wardrobe choices.” Another commentator wrote he pulled off “the delicate balance of sloppy and chic.” Others, however, felt the hoodie was unprofessional and gimmicky given the occasion. “Sorry, but I find it disrespectful,” wrote one X user. “Call me old school, but you dress for the occasion.”
Turns out, Fetterman’s casual approach to fashion is nothing new. The senator regularly wears hooded sweatshirts for high-profile political events: Last year, he made headlines when he attended a press conference in a hoodie and shorts, and it’s a uniform that he has continued to wear to the Capitol all year since. In the world of politicians, everyone has a uniform—be it Jill Biden's elegant skirt suits, or Fetterman's wife Gisele's affordable dresses—and a decidedly more dressed-down look happens to be his. The question is: What are your thoughts on his signature work look? Was it clever, or crude?