Jennifer Rauchette, wife of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has sparked controversy after she reportedly wore a fast fashion dress to the White House correspondents’ dinner.
According to The Guardian, Rauchette’s gown was highly similar to a design sold at a lower price at Shein & Teemu, which drew criticism online due to the administration’s nationalist stance and ongoing tensions with China.
Reaction on social media quickly escalated as influencer Ella Devi wrote: “Peter Hegsheth’s wife wore a Teemu dress to the White House correspondents dinner (I’m not kidding).”
Fashion watchdog Diet Prada also objected, saying: “Pete Hegseth’s wife wore fast fashion from abroad despite her party’s nationalist ideologies.”
Others resisted the criticism. Political activist Laura Loomer defended Rauchette, saying: “She looks amazing. I thought the left was about ‘eating the rich’? Now you want to trust someone who didn’t waste $10,000 on a dress they’ll only wear once.”
Sustainable fashion expert Aja Barber told The Guardian that the reaction reflected wider political divisions.
“His crimes are many and wearing a dress from a sweatshop is one of them. But, in general, our society should really take it seriously, even if he is not someone who is serving in a fascist dictatorial administration”, she said.
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