Donald Trump Debuted a Different Winter Look, and the Internet Thinks He Copied Zohran Mamdani’s Style

Donald Trump stepped out this weekend in a winter look that set social media buzzing, with many users insisting he’d borrowed cues from New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. But the comparison took off largely because of an edited image circulating online.

On Saturday, Nov. 22, a short clip of the 79-year-old president spread quickly on X. In the video, Trump appears in a black coat with a bright red scarf tucked underneath — a noticeable change from his usual cold-weather style. The post that helped spark the trend came from X user Aaron Rupar, who shared the clip with the caption, “Quite a look for Trump today.”

As the video racked up more than 16 million views, replies poured in pointing to similarities with outfits Mamdani, 34, has worn in the past. One widely shared post used a doctored photo of Mamdani from November 2023, altering the colors of his clothing to match Trump’s red-and-black palette. “No way he’s copying the look,” one user wrote alongside the edited image.

Others leaned into the moment with memes, including a comparison to a scene from The Office in which Michael Scott imitates Ryan Howard’s style. “Trump dressing like Mamdani a day after meeting with him,” one person joked, while another wrote that the meeting had “changed Trump’s life more than we know.” A third quipped that Trump’s “stylists were taking notes” during Mamdani’s visit.

Not everyone bought the Mamdani connection, though. Some users argued Trump’s scarf-and-coat combo looked more like a familiar Barack Obama ensemble — sharing photos of Obama wearing a red scarf with a dark coat during public appearances, including a National Christmas Tree Lighting event.

The online chatter followed Mamdani’s visit to the Oval Office on Nov. 21. Given the two politicians’ previously combative public exchanges, many observers were surprised by how cordial the meeting appeared afterward.

Following what both men described as a successful private discussion, they briefly spoke to reporters. Trump said he was impressed by how much they agreed on, while Mamdani emphasized that cost of living, public safety, and housing were recurring concerns he heard from New Yorkers across the political spectrum. Trump echoed those priorities as key issues moving forward.

When asked whether he would feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani administration, Trump said he would.

“Yeah, I would. I really would. Especially after the meeting,” he told reporters. “We agree on a lot more than I would have thought.”