Sen. Bernie Sanders drew derision on Twitter for wearing a parka and hand-knitted mittens to Wednesday’s inauguration of President Biden.
The Vermont socialist eschewed a formal overcoat and dress gloves in favor of warmer wear more suitable for winters in his the Green Mountain State.
“Bernie Sanders showed up to the #InaugurationDay proceedings looking like a man who was preparing to shovel the driveway, a man who was about to get into his Subaru Forester and head to the grocery store. Iconic,” tweeted New York Magazine’s “The Cut.”
Sanders was also mocked for carrying a large manila envelope with a mailing label tucked under his arm as he headed for his seat.
“Bernie dressed to stand on line at the post office,” freelance writer Clare Malone tweeted.
Others focused on how Sanders observed social-distancing guidelines outside the US Capitol by sitting alone on a folding chair, with his arms and legs crossed and a seeming scowl hidden behind a crooked blue surgical face mask.
“I am once again asking that you not talk to me at parties,” freelance writer Obed Manuel tweeted.
BuzzFeed News reporter Ruby Cramer noted that Sanders wore the same mittens on the campaign trail during his failed presidential bid.
The mittens were given to him two years ago by Jen Ellis, a teacher from Essex Junction, Vt., who made them “from repurposed wool sweaters” and lined them with “fleece made from recycled plastic bottles,” Cramer tweeted.