The Tan Lines of The Far Right White

The phenomenon of white male public figures darkening their skin, whether through natural tanning or artificial means, opens up a broader conversation about the intersection of image, identity, and ideology.

When we look at figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Tommy Robinson, and Tony Blair, the choice to darken their skin raises questions not only about their personal image but also about the potential metaphorical implications—have their thoughts darkened along with their skin?

Donald Trump is perhaps the most obvious example. His distinctly orange hue has been a subject of both satire and serious analysis.

While the tan might have started as a way to project vigour and appeal to a certain demographic, it has become symbolic of a more profound disconnect between appearance and reality. Trump's use of inflammatory rhetoric, his willingness to bend or break the truth, and his divisive policies could be seen as reflecting the artificiality of his appearance. The darker his skin became, the more his political stance seemed to embrace a darker, more polarizing tone.

Elon Musk, while less known for a pronounced tan, has also adopted a slightly darker complexion over the years. Musk's evolution from a tech visionary to a more controversial figure with increasingly provocative statements and actions suggests a parallel shift.

As his public image has toughened, so too have his public positions on various issues, often flirting with the edges of societal norms. His skin may have darkened, but more importantly, his thoughts have taken on a more contrarian and sometimes troubling edge.

Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist, is another figure where the darkening of skin coincides with a darkening of ideology. His tans, much like his rhetoric, are bold and attention-grabbing. They signal a desire to appeal to a certain aesthetic while also reflecting the increasingly hardened, exclusionary beliefs that he promotes. As Robinson's skin darkens, so too does his political narrative, which has become more extreme and divisive over time.

Tony Blair presents a different, yet equally intriguing case. Once a beacon of centrist politics, Blair’s post-political career has seen him adopt a more tanned, almost permanently vacationed look. This change coincides with a growing criticism of his legacy, particularly around his role in the Iraq War—a decision often described as leading to a darker chapter in both his career and global politics. Blair's darker complexion in later years could be seen as mirroring the shadow that has fallen over his once-bright political career.

In all these cases, the darkening of the skin may seem like a superficial change, but it invites a deeper examination of whether this external shift is symbolic of internal changes. Have their thoughts and actions become more opaque, more aligned with the shadows? The tan, real or fake, becomes more than just an aesthetic choice—it becomes a metaphor for the darkening of ideology, the deepening of divides, and the increasing complexity of their public personas.

As these figures darken their skin, either intentionally or through the passage of time, the question remains: are they merely adapting to the expectations of their public, or is there a more significant transformation at play? The interplay between the darkened skin and the darkened thoughts suggests that for these men, image and ideology are deeply intertwined, each influencing the other in ways that are both overt and subtle.