They’re making a statement.
Dozens of female Democratic lawmakers have arrived in the House chamber clad in pink pantsuits to send a message of opposition to Republicans and President Trump.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), who helms the 96-member Democratic women’s caucus, explained to Time magazine that pink is intended to “signal our protest of Trump’s policies which are negatively impacting women and families.”
“Pink is a color of power and protest,” she told the outlet.
Female Democratic members of Congress wearing pink to protest the Trump administration’s policies pose for a photo ahead of US President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. AFP via Getty Images
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), left, and Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) are among those wearing pink in protest of the president. Win McNamee-Pool via Imagn Images
“It’s time to rev up the opposition and come at Trump loud and clear. Women have worn pink in opposition to Trump before, and we will do it again.”
Democratic congresswomen have previously coordinated outfits, having worn white twice at two major speeches during Trump’s first term in a nod to suffragists who fought for women’s voting rights.
The clan donned white at former President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address last year to bring attention to reproductive rights.
Not everyone wearing pink is aligned with the Democratic women’s caucus. There are several Republicans who are wearing pink as well, such as Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.)
The New Mexico rep cited several issues with the Trump administration, arguing that the president’s policies are negatively impacting women, especially those from working-class backgrounds.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) are both in pink blazers. Getty ImagesLeger Fernández said women are bearing the brunt of Trump’s latest initiatives.
“Women in my district are terrified and are also losing their jobs with the indiscriminate, inconsistent, chaotic, mass firings,” Leger Fernández told the outlet.
“When a woman loses her job, she loses the ability to care for her family. I think it’s important that Trump, my Republican colleagues, and the nation see the faces and the pain that he is inflicting on America and on the services we depend on.”
The 47th president is addressing a joint session of Congress Tuesday night in his first major speech to the country since he was sworn into office in January.
Trump will declare that under his leadership “America’s momentum is back” in his speech, according to excerpts released by the White House.
“Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 Executive Orders and taken more than 400 Executive Actions to restore COMMON SENSE, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land,” Trump is expected to say.
“The People elected me to do the job, and I am doing it. In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation.”
