The socks that silence Donald Trump

On March 12, a press conference was held at the White House with President Donald Trump; his Vice President, JD Vance; and the Prime Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin. After discussing peace between Russia and Ukraine and the economy, Trump abruptly cut the conversation short, saying, "I know we're here to talk about inflation, but I have to say, I love these socks. [...] I'm trying to stay focused, but I'm very impressed with the Vice President's socks." The socks in question were white with green shamrocks, a nod to Martin as a symbol of Ireland and the Saint Patrick's Day holiday. Without delving into the disturbing and insensitive ease with which Trump can link issues of great importance to the world order with others as trivial, it is interesting to analyze how socks have recently acquired communicative importance among the political class.

Throughout the 20th century, men's socks lived in complete anonymity, but starting in 2010, they began to gain more prominence, especially among those who had to wear a tailored suit every day. This new trend began especially in the United Kingdom, where men, from a young age, are disciplined in uniforms with little room for variation. And while English schools and colleges have strict clothing restrictions, socks are the only ones that are not regulated, opening the door to a small space for individuality and expression. A spirit of rebellion that, with England being one of the undisputed benchmarks in men's formal attire, has reached the professional world, as a display of personality, originality, and creativity, and the political class, to bridge the gap with voters.

A first transgression in professional settings has been the fashion for red socks, which symbolize values such as trust, power, and authority with a touch of permissible rebellion that doesn't break professional etiquette. Red socks, moreover, in British tradition are an exclusive status symbol common within the judiciary. As a result, red socks have entered the political sphere in the hands of figures such as Rishi Sunak, Nayib Bukele, and François Fillon. The next step in rebellion has been brightly colored socks with fun motifs, which have also been adopted by several politicians, most notably George HW Bush. As a person with an introverted personality, funny socks have been a communicative crutch for him, who has even stated: "I'm a sock man". When he became wheelchair-bound, his ankles became more prominent. Among the many versions of socks he has worn, some featuring the face of former President Bill Clinton are worth mentioning, given that the two belonged to opposing parties.

The second and well-deserved place goes to Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, popularly known for his original socks, featuring rubber ducks, Ramadan greetings, the gin and tonic recipe, or—the most talked-about—the ones featuring the face of the Star Wars character Chewbacca to inaugurate the Bloomberg 2 headquarters. During official visits to various countries, these eye-catching socks with messages have been the welcome gift.

This increasingly widespread trend has been dubbed by many as "sock diplomacy," as they often contain cultural allusions to the country of the politician you're meeting. Despite celebrating men's daring to dress more playfully, it's true that, in the political sphere, socks all too often end up being the anecdote reported by the media. A gesture by politicians to gain visibility and greater presence on social media, while also serving to mask and divert attention, as has happened with Trump, from the truly important issues.