For President Donald Trump, being 'hot' is more than a compliment—it's a core philosophy. He has called Sydney Sweeney the 'HOTTEST' and declared Taylor Swift 'NO LONGER HOT' on Truth Social. This fixation on appearance defines the MAGA movement: women seek 'Mar-a-Lago Face,' men embrace spray tans, and Trump praises Air Force One pilots as 'perfect specimens,' even comparing them to Tom Cruise.
The 'Hotter' Party as a Political Weapon
Being the more attractive political party has become a way to 'own the libs.' Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, tweeted a survey suggesting 60% of 'extremely liberal' men are childless, remarking that 'liberal men aren't attractive.' Kid Rock blamed 'ugly liberal women' for declining birthrates, while Tomi Lahren targeted 'ugly white liberal women.' Brian Glenn, a conservative host, claimed Republican women are 'better-looking' because they are 'happy' and 'joyous.'
Historical Roots of the Taunt
This isn't new. Attacks on suffragettes as 'ugly' date back over a century. Dan Cassino, a Fairleigh Dickinson University professor, explains that the underlying belief is that women's primary goal is marriage and security, so those who reject this must be unattractive. 'It allows people to dismiss criticism as sour grapes,' he says.
Cassino notes that when a woman criticizing MAGA is considered attractive, the disparagement shifts to calling her 'shrill' or 'slutty.' This is seen in memes about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacks on Kamala Harris. Right-wing women also face sexism, but for the manosphere, women are framed in terms of 'sexual market value.' Opting out of traditional roles is seen as a choice only for those with low perceived value.
Why 'Hotness' Matters to Trump Conservatives
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, a historian of gender and politics, says that given Trump's emphasis on appearance over content, winning the 'hot wars' is essential to justify their power. 'The beauty they celebrate requires effort—like Mar-a-Lago Face—showing loyalty to Trump and the movement,' she says. Cassino compares it to getting a face tattoo: 'Someone getting Mar-a-Lago Face is announcing commitment to the cause.'
The Darker Side: Eugenics and Pronatalism
Cassino sees a troubling flirtation with eugenics in the right's focus on attractiveness, from Trump's talk of 'good genes' to Elon Musk's pronatalism. 'America invented eugenics, and we're not far off from measuring skulls,' he warns.
Science on Attractiveness and Politics
A 2017 study in the Journal of Public Economics found that right-wing politicians are perceived as more attractive in Europe, the U.S., and Australia. Other research suggests good-looking people are more likely to hold conservative views due to a 'halo effect.' However, Rabinovitch-Fox notes that such bullying is a classic schoolyard taunt that 'has long proved successful for the right.' Phyllis Schlafly used similar digs against feminists, and today's pundits know it's easier to call someone ugly than engage with arguments.
