By Allison Steele, The Philadelphia Inquirer – Atlantic City Press photos
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, wore a blue suit with white pinstripes, accessorized with a red tie and four-point white pocket square, on Wednesday to deliver a speech against impeaching President Donald Trump. C-Span
Jeff Van Drew dressed for the occasion. As he always does.
The South Jersey Republican congressman knew all eyes would be on him when he took the lectern Wednesday to speak against impeaching President Donald Trump for inciting last week’s deadly Capitol insurrection. But online, Van Drew’s attire might have gotten more attention than his arguments against impeachment.
Van Drew, who won reelection in November, a year after defecting from the Democratic Party and pledging his “undying support” to Trump, donned a blue suit with white pinstripes, accessorized with a red tie and four-point white pocket square.
The look drew savage commentary from Twitter pundits, with some calling it a “zoot suit” and comparing him to an old-timey gangster from a corny movie. One tweet paired an image of Van Drew with a disapproving screenshot of Meryl Streep’s fashion-boss character from The Devil Wears Prada.
“None of the lawsuits against Donald Trump are as bad as this suit,” comedian Samantha Bee wrote.
In an interview Thursday, Van Drew said he began wearing colorful suits years ago as a way to start conversations and bring levity to the sometimes grim work of politics. Wednesday, which saw Trump become the first president ever impeached twice, was no exception.
“So much in politics, especially lately, is negative and sometimes sad,” said Van Drew, R-2nd. “So it’s kind of fun for me to wear suits that are a little bit different. My constituents get a kick out of it, and my colleagues in Congress get a kick out of it.”
Meanwhile, back in his New Jersey district, some voters are not amused
In an interview Thursday, Van Drew said he began wearing colorful suits years ago as a way to start conversations and bring levity to the sometimes grim work of politics. Wednesday, which saw Trump become the first president ever impeached twice, was no exception.
“So much in politics, especially lately, is negative and sometimes sad,” said Van Drew, R-2nd. “So it’s kind of fun for me to wear suits that are a little bit different. My constituents get a kick out of it, and my colleagues in Congress get a kick out of it.”
