A united front through fashion

Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has struck three Iranian nuclear sites. He has chosen war. He lied; he did not give them the two weeks he had said he would. The attack on Iran came just two days after beloved White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had stated confidently last Thursday (U.S. time), that Mr Trump would make a decision on whether to proceed with an attack within “the next two weeks.” The president himself had also indicated a “period of time” and that “two weeks would be the maximum.” We woke up this morning to learn that he has placed the Americans in the heart of the Iran-Israel conflict. The peacemaker has sent bombs to be dropped over Iran.

After the attack, Mr Trump addressed the nation from the White House. He said: “Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.” He expressed gratitude to the “great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight… on an operation, the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.” The boastful and celebratory language was inflammatory, as well as escalatory, lacking empathy for the human cost. His insistence that “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated” further showed no acknowledgement of the moral complexities inherent in deliberate military force.

The boastful and celebratory language was inflammatory, as well as escalatory, lacking empathy for the human cost

Following Mr Trump’s declaration of triumph, Benjamin Netanyahu, too, spoke to his people through a televised address. He said that U.S. was “truly unsurpassed” in their massive strikes and stated that Mr Trump’s “leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.” Earlier at the White House, during his address, Mr Trump intoned: “I want to thank and congratulate prime minister BB Netanyahu. We work as a team like, perhaps, no team has ever worked before.” It was quite the mutual admiration club that no doubt showed the men’s shared ideology and strategic alignment. Clearly, a pressure pot of political and personal synergy.

Mr Trump did not make his speech by appearing alone. He was accompanied by his V.P. JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, and secretary of defence Pete Hegseth. All appeared before the camera lens identically dressed: the dark suit, the white shirts below and the vertical line of power—the tie, all red, except Mr Vance’s blue, unfortunately, a lame attempt at projecting calm. Their cohesion of dress looked to be a president saying that the military action was a joint decision, a boys’ club effort. The identical turnout reinforces the idea of an integrated, disciplined, and unified team, even if it’s one that agreed to Israel outsourcing their war effort to them. It projected a triumphant quartet to both domestic and international audiences.

Their cohesion of dress looked to be a president saying that the military action was a joint decision, a boys’ club effort

In 2011, after the raid in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden, then president Barack Obama addressed the nation alone from the East Room of the White House. His announcement was notably measured, somber, and focused on justice and remembrance, rather than triumphalism or boasting. In retrospect, it now highlights the stark difference in optics and atmosphere between that raid then and Mt Trump’s attack now. But what perhaps was most memorable was the iconic “Situation Room photo” of president Obama huddling with his team to watch the progress of the mission. The anxiety was palpable. Mr Obama leaned forward, intensely focused. Vice-president Joe Biden was seen with his rosary beads. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton famously had her hand over her mouth, a gesture mostly interpreted as anxiety or deep concern, even when she later clarified that it was due to a cough. And she was not the only woman in the group. There was also Audrey Tomason, Director for Counterterrorism.

About 9,500 kilometres away in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his own rousing victory speech. He, too, was dressed to honor his buddy-in-war, unmistakably choosing a red tie. Combined with the explicit optics of Donald Trump, flanked by his national security team, their coordinated attire, and his triumphant language following the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the public display was clearly curated to project unified power, decisive action, and unyielding strength. This also provided an impression of broad consensus and institutional backing for the military operation. The sartorial uniformity of the gang of four (plus one) communicates clearly: We are one, and we are resolute. Suits unite men, so do overt displays of power.

Screen shot: cbsnews/YouTube