Hats, Tats and Tees: How Americans Are Advertising Their Political Support - Newsweek

Nov 02, 2024

There's a host of ways that the American people can support their chosen candidate for president: canvassing, campaigning, calling people up to persuade them to vote.

But one method of support has been particularly eye-catching throughout this election cycle: the sartorial political statement. From hats to t-shirts, bags and even tattoos, people across the U.S. have got creative as they expressed their support for the Trump-Vance and Harris-Walz tickets.

With the race now in it's final days, Newsweek looks at some of the most striking and memorable ways American's have got creative with their endorsements throughout this historic election year.

Since first announcing his campaign for presidency in 2015, Trump's rallies have become renowned for their high-energy atmosphere, theatrical elements, and fervent supporter engagement.

In October, Trump held a campaign rally at Calhoun Ranch near Coachella, California. This event was notable for its location in a mostly Democratic state and attracted thousands of supporters despite temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

In August 2024, following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic presidential nomination.

Harris' candidacy injected new life into the Democrats' campaign, and the early days of the vice president's bid for the White House had an emphasis on joyfulness.

Amid the euphoria, singer Charli XCX posted on X, formerly Twitter, that 'Kamala IS brat,' in a nod to her recent album, brat, which is synonymous with a shade of neon green (now dubbed brat green) and a party girl persona.

Harris' association with brat became an overarching mood of the campaign as her team pushed brat memes, and Charli XCX's post generated a multitude of think pieces and table talks.

Trump was arrested in August 2023 in Fulton County, Georgia, where he was charged with attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, marking the first time a former U.S. president faced criminal charges.

The image of his mugshot has since become iconic among his backers, and has intensified their support for someone they perceive as being politically persecuted.

On July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump survived an assassination attempt. The assailant, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots from a rooftop approximately 130 yards away, injuring Trump's right ear.

The image of Trump after the bullet had grazed his ear instantly became a defining moment in the campaign. It has since been adopted by many of his supporters.

Throughout Harris' campaign, a number of different groups have formed to mobilize support for the vice president including Black Men for Harris, Survivors for Harris, and White Dudes for Harris.

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