Masks and face coverings are a part of our everyday lives now, and it didn’t take long for them to evolve beyond being a simple safety measure. Fashion brands have turned them into beautiful statement pieces that pull double-duty on protection and style, while musicians have turned the into merch to promote their new albums. And with the 2020 presidential election coming up this November, we may be seeing the new emergence of yet another iteration on the trend: the political statement mask.
This week, Shia LaBeouf was one of the first stars to use a mask to share his political allegiance. The actor stepped out in Los Angeles on two separate occasions wearing a black and white “Biden” mask to express his support for the Democratic nominee and former VP Joe Biden, who will face off against President Trump in this year’s election. The mask is an official piece of merch from Biden’s website and retails for $20. Proceeds of it are donated to the Biden Victory Fund, which aids his campaign.
As for Trump, a quick survey of the president’s official site shows no signs of masks for sale, though there are dog leashes, “I Heart Trump” straws, and pint glasses. Bootleg Trump masks do exist on Amazon, however.
Masks have become a hot-button politic issue during the pandemic, particularly in the U.S. Where they are worn is largely based on which state governors choose to enact mandatory laws around them, though this new trend of presidential merch masks takes things to a new level. After all, flaunting your political leanings across your mouth, as opposed to your chest, makes your stance on the election especially clear.
On Monday, LaBeouf took the idea even further with a tee depicting the Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. A subtle endorsement of the Scandivanavian country’s dynamic social democratic leader, 34-year-old Sanna Marin, perhaps? The bigger question that remains however, is which Hollywood celebrity will top this triumphant political fashion statement.