President Barack Obama took questions from the White House press corps Thursday afternoon on a range of life-and-death issues including Syria, Iraq, Russia’s aggressions against Ukraine, and the ISIS takeover in the Middle East. But the only thing Twitter wanted to talk about was the commander-in-chief’s tan suit.
Here are just some of the many, many comments on the suit, an unusual choice for a president who almost always addresses the nation in a more traditional dark-colored attire.
Praise
This suit is the boldest thing Obama’s done in months.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) August 28, 2014
Missing ‘fashion’ right here. pic.twitter.com/S4f4dbiuzZ
— Evan Weiss (@eaweiss) August 28, 2014
Criticism
This suit is a devious distraction from #Benghazi.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 28, 2014
Meta-criticism
Social media will comment more on the President’s tan sport coat than his words.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) August 28, 2014
if you want people to ignore what you’re saying, change up your suit color
— Matt DeLong (@mattdelong) August 28, 2014
Support
I see no problem with the suit. pic.twitter.com/ZFFt75FedU
— John Dingell (@john_dingell) August 28, 2014
Mockery
WH press staffers to one another 30 minutes ago, “should we say something?”
— Brendan Buck (@BrendanBuck) August 28, 2014
Obama vows to defeat whoever made him wear this suit. pic.twitter.com/zoqj7OVFRe
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 28, 2014
Obama looks like he walked into Brooks Brothers looking for a suit and forgot to stop at the tailor on the way out.
— Micah Singleton (@MicahSingleton) August 28, 2014
I’m imagining an adorable West Wing-style anecdote where Michelle spills something on Obama’s jacket and he has to borrow an aide’s instead.
— Tim Carmody (@tcarmody) August 28, 2014
Puns
Guys what’s wrong I think Obama’s doing a suitable job
— Sean O’Kane (@sokane1) August 28, 2014
You know, tan really suits him.
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) August 28, 2014
YES WE TAN
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) August 28, 2014
“Russia’s actions in Ukraine are TAN-tamount to war.” — Obama, I wish.
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) August 28, 2014
The big picture
So finally everyone is talking about what a male politician is wearing.
— Ali N. (@anniesperson) August 28, 2014
This is also probably the only time Obama’s critics have wished there was more black in the White House.
— Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) August 28, 2014
Reading the tea leaves
Point:
Tan suit = war
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) August 28, 2014
Counterpoint:
I’m sorry but you can’t declare war in a suit like that.
— Damian Paletta (@damianpaletta) August 28, 2014
Acrostics
Beige E N G H A Z I Suit
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) August 28, 2014
B E TaN Suit G H A Z I
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) August 28, 2014
TAN SUIT C O R N
— Political Line (@PoliticaILine) August 28, 2014
Aaaand the parody Twitter accounts…
Of course you exist. RT @Obamastansuit: How do I look? #tansuit #potus
— Brian Rie$ (@moneyries) August 28, 2014
Two of which didn’t last
.@Twitter cracking down on parody accounts? @ObamaSuit suspended 15 min after being created: https://t.co/gXavNS4ZrZ pic.twitter.com/ESiSiTJijd
— Neetzan Zimmerman (@neetzan) August 28, 2014
Whoa, now @BarackTanSuit is suspended: https://t.co/FCbH0LSrKu
— Andrew Couts (@AndrewCouts) August 28, 2014
Worst of all: It all might happen again
Message from senior White House official: ‘He loves that suit.’
— Susan Page (@SusanPage) August 28, 2014
Screenshot via White House livestream
