The 79-year-old U.S. President has become the center of a fashion frenzy after stepping out in an outfit wildly different from his usual look—and people are convinced they know exactly why.
On Saturday (22 November), Trump addressed reporters before boarding Marine One outside the White House. But this time, it wasn’t a surprising comment or sudden policy shake-up that stole the spotlight.
It was his outfit: a black wool coat paired with a deep burgundy scarf.
For a man who practically lives in a black or navy suit, white shirt, and red tie, this was a full plot twist. And the internet noticed—loudly.
Social media erupted with theories, and the leading one? That Trump was influenced by none other than New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani, who just made history as NYC’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian descent, the first born in Africa, and—at 34—the first millennial to hold the office, has become something of a style icon himself. His wife, Rama Duwaji, also just became the city’s first Gen Z first lady.
Trump has long made it known he’s no fan of the Democratic socialist mayor. He even threatened to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won.
So when the two met on Friday (21 November) at the White House and were surprisingly cordial—Trump even saying he hoped Mamdani would be “a really great mayor”—people’s jaws hit the floor.
And just one day later, Trump appears in a coat-and-scarf combo eerily similar to Mamdani’s signature look.
Coincidence? The internet says absolutely not.
One user joked: “Alert. Trump wore a coat and scarf and now the internet is freaking out.”
Another wrote: “Google searches for burgundy scarves spiked after Trump showed up in an all-time fit. Fashion icon.”
A third quipped: “Trump’s new turtleneck-and-scarf aesthetic is being memed as the ‘Mamdani Effect’—proof he’s got a new political crush.”
More jokes followed:
“Trump when Mamdani gifted him the scarf.”
“Mamdani cooked so hard Trump stole his fit.”
One user even posted a side-by-side photo of the two in nearly identical outfits: “BREAKING: Trump COPIES Mamdani’s look. Who wore it BETTER?”
