A dress worn by Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump¡¯s White House Press Secretary, has become the latest subject of political trolling and irony online. While the red and black lace outfit seemed ordinary at first glance, its origin soon became a flashpoint. The look came during the same week Leavitt publicly mocked Joe Biden¡¯s age and questioned his ability to govern. But before her words could even settle, her wardrobe set off alarms across social media.
The backlash began when online users noticed the dress bore a striking resemblance to items listed on several Chinese e-commerce platforms. Though there is no confirmed origin, users on Weibo and X (formerly Twitter) identified the lace design as being from a Chinese factory in Mabu. Zhang Zhisheng, a Chinese diplomat currently serving as Consul General in Denpasar, also joined in online, posting an image of Leavitt¡¯s dress alongside a product match from China.
He didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Accusing China is business. Buying China is life,¡± he wrote, tagging it to Leavitt¡¯s now-viral photo. The comment quickly caught on, with screenshots circulating across social media.?
Social media users did not spare Leavitt. One blunt post read, ¡°Karoline Leavitt¡¯s gorgeous self-portrait dress is indeed made in China. Cope.¡± Another was far more direct and vulgar: ¡°Karoline Leavitt had so much plastic surgery that she is talking out of her arse.¡±
More users joined in with sarcastic takes, one writing: ¡°This just illustrates corporate America¡¯s exploitation of slave labor worldwide for profit, while advocating ridiculous minimum wage in America!¡± Another said, ¡°Listen, if you leave power now, we promise to only prosecute Karoline Leavitt.¡±
The outrage wasn¡¯t just about a dress. It was about contradiction ¡ª the symbolism of criticizing a nation and allegedly benefiting from its products, all in the same breath. Many called it the perfect example of double standards.
Before this fashion storm, Leavitt had taken a sharp jab at Joe Biden, targeting both his age and his recent remarks defending Social Security. After Biden gave a fiery speech in Chicago condemning Trump¡¯s impact on the SSA, Leavitt mocked him by saying, ¡°I¡¯m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime. I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.¡±
Leavitt then added Trump¡¯s plan to ensure benefits would go only to legal, tax-paying Americans. She said the former president is ¡°absolutely certain¡± about protecting benefits for ¡°law-abiding, taxpaying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program.¡±
At the National Conference of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled, Biden criticized the current administration¡¯s handling of Social Security. He accused Trump¡¯s team of ¡°taking a hatchet¡± to the SSA, adding that their actions had already led to the exit of over 7,000 experienced employees.
¡°They have a grudge against the Social Security Administration,¡± he said, while highlighting how service delays were affecting millions. Biden took a swipe at tech industry logic, calling Trump¡¯s strategy: ¡°Move fast, break things. They're definitely causing trouble. They're aiming later and shooting first.¡±
The core of the backlash lies in contradiction. A secretary who backs a government pushing for economic decoupling with China showed up in a dress identified with Chinese supply chains. This, while mocking a former president¡¯s age and defending policies meant to ¡°prioritize American interests,¡± was bound to hit a nerve online.
One user captured this perfectly: ¡°Karoline Leavitt slammed as 'hypocrite' as Chinese diplomat trolls her over 'Made in China' dress.¡± Another added bitterly, ¡°Just need you out of power and her smug as can do North Korea solo ¡ª prolly fit in well.¡±
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