His meme-worthy hair has long been a source of fascination and mockery. But President-elect Donald Trump set the internet alight when he showcased a sleek new look. And now experts have joined the conversation.
A video circulated Tuesday showing off Trump's updated hairstyle as he spoke at a news conference at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Love it or loathe it, the shift from his famous bouffant could signal a decisive rebrand to usher in a new era of his administration. Or it might simply be a way for him to garner attention. Newsweek contacted Trump's presidential transition team for comment on Thursday.
Social media quickly erupted with commentary. "The ultimate hair hair," quipped a Republican meme page, @memenonlibs. Meanwhile, one X, formerly Twitter, user speculated that the president might have embraced Gen Z's favorite hairstyle: "Do we have a mullet?"
The new look, which features shorter, swept-back sides and a longer back, has prompted psychologists, political branding experts and hairstylists to weigh in on its potential meaning to Newsweek.
Johanna Maska, a former White House aide to President Barack Obama, revealed that hairstyles always attract widespread attention.
"President Trump especially has gotten a lot of attention for his hair, even before the cut," Maska said.
"If he's trying for a fresh start—new look, new you?—I hope for him and for the U.S. that it works. Time will tell."
She cited Michelle Obama's bangs as an example of the obsession. In 2013, the former first lady's haircut sparked global conversation. Obama joked that her bangs were a "midlife crisis" in an interview with Rachael Ray, reflecting how hair changes can often mark a new chapter in life.
America's fascination with hair is nothing new. As National Geographic noted in its exploration of presidential coiffures, from George Washington's tight white curls to Donald Trump's golden locks, hairstyles have long been a cultural fixation.
In the 18th and 19th century, adorers sought samples of Washington's hair to keep as relics. A lock of the first president's hair sold in a New York City auction house earlier this month for $17,000.
Greg Linnelli, an account strategist at Otter Public Relations, said high-profile public figures can alter their image for a plethora of reasons.
He told Newsweek: "While President Trump and his lettuce have been a packaged deal over the years, it won't change people's view of him much."
Linnelli believes the transformation could open up the floodgates for criticism from those who dislike the president-elect.
"One thing to keep in mind with President Trump is that he's a master at self-branding and marketing. This might be another one of those instances where he gets people talking about him based on his actions," he added.
Psychologist and political adviser Dr. Reneé Carr offered her verdict on how the new hairdo could espouse power and dominance.
"His haircut is most likely motivated because of thinning and wanting to appear as if he has more volume—and therefore appearing younger. It's also interesting that he chose a military-type cut.
"This styling choice, along with his personality type of extroversion, usually reflects a desire to also appear strong and dominant."
Jean Marc Durante, co-owner and hairstylist at Red Market Salon in Miami, was more critical, and said the look appears to be a temporary tryout.
"From these photos and videos, it's hard to tell whether Trump cut his hair or slicked it back with more product than before," he told Newsweek.
Durante also advised that Trump could achieve a more youthful look by coloring his hair darker.
"It looks like a joke; almost as if he's doing this to get us to talk about it and gain media attention. This look doesn't suit him and is not his style at all—it makes him appear older, like a 1950s rock star, such as Elvis Presley," he added.
English (US) ·