President Donald Trump managed over the weekend to briefly shift attention away from the wars, the midterm elections, and the political storms in Washington through a surprising change in his appearance. In photos taken Friday, as he stepped off the presidential plane at Morristown Airport in New Jersey, the president's hair appeared noticeably darker and browner than the blond shade typically associated with him.
The hairstyle also looked different, less combed, slightly tousled, with his familiar part shifted in the opposite direction. The photos, taken among others by AP, Reuters, and AFP, spread quickly on social media and sparked a wave of reactions, jokes, and comparisons. However, no official confirmation was given that Trump had, in fact, dyed his hair, and it remains unclear whether the change is permanent or merely a temporary look.
"The hair???? If I hadn't pulled the images from Getty Images myself, I wouldn't have believed it," independent journalist Yashar Ali wrote. MSNBC commentator Molly Jong-Fast declared that "Trump is a brunette," while author Anne Lamott was enthusiastic: "I love it. So youthful. Very Pierce Brosnan." Others compared the new look to 1970s game show hosts, actor Robert Redford, and even Rudy Giuliani.
The next day, Trump went out to play golf at his club in Bedminster, alongside Fox News host Bret Baier and others. This time, however, he wore a red cap which covered most of his hair and left the mystery unresolved. The White House did not respond to media inquiries on the matter.
The uproar came just days after the 80-year-old Trump himself addressed the longstanding rumors that he wears a wig. During a dinner at the White House Rose Garden, he recounted a particularly heated campaign rally and said, "For years, I had to suffer with people saying, 'He wears a wig.' I don't wear a wig. But that night, they found out I did not wear a wig because if you did, it was not going to be on your head very long," Trump continued.
This is not the first time Trump has surprised with a hairstyle change. In 2019, he briefly appeared with his hair slicked back, but returned to his familiar look the same day. It remains to be seen whether the brown shade heralds a new era or is simply a passing episode.
