Andrew Yang appears without a tie during Democratic debate, and people have some feelings
On Wednesday night, the first debate of the 2020 election cycle kicked off with ten Democratic hopefuls, three candidates appealing to Spanish-speaking voters, and a microphone mishap. On Thursday, ten more Democrats took to the stage to debate everything from healthcare to immigration, but it seems all anyone can focus on is entrepreneur Andrew Yang ?— and his lack of a tie.
Yang, of course, has never been a typical presidential candidate. While relatively unknown, he was able to poll and fundraise over the 65,000 individual donor threshold to qualify for the debate on Thursday.
The 44-year-old Venture for America founder appeared on podcasts and television interviews in recent months for his campaign to drum up support, including The Joe Rogan Experience, The Breakfast Club, and Tucker Carlson Tonight. During these interviews, he warned of working-class jobs becoming automated in the future. He also described his Freedom Dividend platform, a form of universal basic income (UBI), in which he says everyone over the age of 18 would receive $1,000 per month.
Despite warning about the "robot apocalypse," most on social media seemed to focus on the fact that Yang did not wear a tie and did not button his top button during the Democratic Debate.
Typically, male candidates wear a tie during such a formal debate and usually stick to red or blue. Yang's tie-less look received mixed reactions.
.@AndrewYang is rocketing to the top of my list by not wearing a tie. Talk about structural change.
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 28, 2019
Andrew Yang is so edgy without a tie.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) June 28, 2019
The least Andrew Yang could do is put on a tie pic.twitter.com/0dOtopEwQq
— Annie Shields (@anastasiakeeley) June 28, 2019
I can relate to @AndrewYang, because I too never wear a tie to work when people expect me to #DemDebate
— Paul D. McKay (@Hi_ImPaul_) June 28, 2019
Even Meghan McCain couldn’t believe it, but, ultimately, respected his choice.
What?!?!?!?!?
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 28, 2019
Andrew Yang deciding not to wear a tie tonight is giving me so much life. #DemocraticDebates
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 28, 2019
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