A collective of Democratic women in Congress is preparing to don pink attire during President Donald Trump’s upcoming Joint Address to Congress this Tuesday evening. This coordinated fashion statement serves as a visual protest against his administration’s policies.
Teresa Leger Fernández, the Congresswoman from New Mexico and chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, shared with TIME on Monday that the choice of pink is a deliberate signal of their discontent with Trump’s policies that negatively impact women and families.
“Pink represents both power and protest,” she remarked during an interview. “It’s essential to amplify our resistance and send a clear message to Trump.”
This will be Trump’s first formal address to Congress in five years. Historically, such important speeches provide the opposition party an opportunity to voice dissent against the sitting president. Throughout Trump’s first term, Democratic lawmakers expressed their opposition vocally, with some booing, others walking out, and many using their fashion choices as political statements. Notably, during Trump’s 2020 State of the Union, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi made headlines by tearing up a copy of his speech while seated just behind him.
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The Democratic Women’s Caucus, consisting of 96 members, has a longstanding tradition of using fashion as a means of protest. In previous years, they wore white to commemorate suffragists who fought for women’s voting rights and opted for black during the last State of the Union to advocate for reproductive rights. This year, they are taking a fresh approach by choosing pink to symbolize a pivotal moment in American political history.
“Women have previously donned pink to oppose Trump, and we are continuing that tradition,” Leger Fernández stated.
Andrew Harrer–Bloomberg via Getty Images
Leger Fernández highlighted several issues with the Trump Administration, such as tariffs on Canada and Mexico that could lead to increased prices, as well as proposed budget cuts to Medicaid—the largest single payer for maternity care in the U.S., covering over 40% of births. She emphasized that Trump’s policies, particularly those related to reproductive health and social programs, disproportionately affect women, especially those from working-class backgrounds.
“These pressures weigh heavily on women,” Leger Fernández explained. “Women in my district are anxious and losing their jobs due to chaotic mass firings. When a woman loses her job, it threatens her ability to support her family.”
Beyond the symbolism of their attire, Democrats intend to use the address as a platform to highlight the real-world consequences of Trump’s policies. Many lawmakers are planning to invite guests who have been directly impacted by his administration’s decisions, including union leaders, federal employees affected by budget cuts, and others suffering from government funding freezes.
Unlike previous years, there appears to be no widespread movement among Democrats to boycott the address. Instead, many lawmakers express a desire to be visibly present, contrasting their silence against the applause from Republican members, thereby emphasizing their dissent.
“It’s vital for Trump, my Republican colleagues, and the country to recognize the faces and the suffering caused by his policies in America and within the services we depend on,” Leger Fernández concluded.
