First Lady Jill Biden inadvertently started an all-out Twitter war over the weekend after donning a pair of patterned tights that sparked a bitter debate between her critics and supporters.
The 69-year-old arrived back in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night following a trip to California, and was pictured stepping off her plane at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland wearing a black jacket, above-the-knee black skirt, black heeled boots, and a bold pair of tights featuring a criss-cross pattern.
Her legwear quickly drew the eyes of multiple online critics – who slammed her tights as ‘trashy’ and ’embarrassing’, while accusing the professor of being ‘too old’ to wear such a bold look.
Under fire: Jill Biden’s patterned tights sparked outrage among critics on social media, with some branding the 69-year-old’s ensemble ‘trashy’ and ’embarrassing’
Hitting back: The First Lady’s supporters fired back at the criticism, insisting the tights – which she wore when returning to D.C. from California on Thursday – were ‘bold’ and ‘on trend’
‘I think Jill B has the holidays confused. She must think it’s Halloween. What is she 70? Either way she’s much too old for fishnets & stilleto booties,’ one person wrote.
‘Madonna called and wants her trashy look back, Doc,’ another Twitter user added.
A number of people compared her to popstar Madonna, with one writing: ‘Good Lord, she looks like Madonna’s grandmother.’
One Twitter user joked that Jill looked as though she had been shopping at youth-focused fast fashion retailer Forever 21, writing: ‘Hey Jill Biden. It’s not called Forever61 for a reason. Forever21 needs a cut off date!!’
‘For an additional $29.99 Jill Biden could have accessorized her Halloween costume with the optional broom,’ another added.
Controversy: Some conservative Twitter users hit out at Jill, while comparing her to her 50-year-old predecessor Melania Trump – insisting she would have been able to ‘rock’ the tights
Upset: Some compared Jill’s ensemble to a ‘Halloween costume’ while others said she looked ‘trashy’ and ’embarrassing’
Several conservative Twitter users also seized upon the opportunity to heap praise on Jill’s predecessor Melania Trump, insisting that the 50-year-old would have looked much better in the patterned tights.
‘FLOTUS is too ancient to rock fishnets,’ one person wrote. ‘Melania definitely has the legs for them not crusty old Jill Biden.’
Another added: ‘Jill Biden is just too old to be wearing fishnets. It’s gross. But Melania on the other hand would rock them.’
A third chimed in: ‘It’s not JUST the fishnets. It’s the whole mess. A miniskirt? All black? Not too springy. The outfit is ugly for a woman of any age. No one pays attention to #Flotus anyway. The only thing I’ve seen are people still talking about #Melania.’
The criticism sparked outrage among Jill’s supporters however, many of whom were quick to fire back and praise the First Lady’s ‘bold’ ensemble – while pointing out that she was wearing ‘patterned tights’ and not ‘fishnets’ as some tweets incorrectly stated.
Defense: Jill’s supporters hit back at her critics, insisting that the First Lady ‘rocked’ the look, and insisting she can ‘wear what she wants’
Pattern? Others compared the outrage over her tights to critics who slammed Barack Obama for wearing a tan suit, and blasted his wife Michelle’s sleeveless dresses
‘She is wonderful, you are jealous,’ one wrote, while another added: ‘There is no such thing as age appropriate.’
‘Can’t believe all the fuss about Jill Biden’s tights. In 2021 ffs,’ a third person commented.
Many people took the chance to take aim at Jill’s conservative critics, comparing the backlash against the First Lady’s ensemble to the outrage over a tan suit worn by Barack Obama in 2014, and sleeveless dresses donned by his wife Michelle.
‘Jill Biden wore patterned tights (not fishnets, BTW) & conservatives lose their minds. Ivanka wears them all the time and they consider her a paragon of style. And let’s not even get started on what Melania does – or doesn’t wear. This is Jill’s tan suit moment,’ one person said.
‘Michelle Obama upset them in a sleeveless sheath dress and Barack Obama upset them in a tan suit,’ another wrote. ‘So now they upset about Jill Biden and her cute ensemble with her patterned tights and ankle boots. She looked very chic.’