Trump's famous blond hair takes a surprising turn as he sports 'almost-brunette' locks

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's signature blond hair appeared to have undergone a rather unexpected change on Friday, September 4.

The president arrived in New Jersey for a weekend getaway at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, but it was not just the destination that caught attention.

His usually bright golden-blond hairstyle appeared noticeably darker, giving Trump an almost-brunette look that marked a striking departure from the shade he has sported for years.

Trump's hair makes the news again

Trump was seen after Air Force One landed in New Jersey, with his familiar swept-back hairstyle looking darker and, in places, seemingly fuller than usual.

The difference was particularly noticeable because Trump’s hair is generally associated with a distinctive golden-blond color.

The president has maintained essentially the same recognizable hairstyle for decades, making changes in its color, shape or volume considerably more noticeable than they might be for most people.

This time, the blond appeared to have taken a back seat. 

Separately, there is even a more elaborate claim about the amount of preparation behind Trump’s hairstyle.

Longtime Trump biographer Michael Wolff claimed on the 'Inside Trump’s Head' podcast that a portable 'hair kit' travels with Trump.

According to Wolff, the kit allegedly contains patches in different colors that can be used to match whatever shade the president’s hair happens to be.

But that hair-kit claim has not been independently established as fact. 

The current change, however, does not necessarily point to anything dramatic.

Hair can look different depending on lighting, styling products, camera angles and the way individual strands are arranged.

But in Trump’s case, even a change in shade is difficult to overlook because the hairstyle has become such a familiar part of his appearance.

And this is certainly not the first time Trump’s hair has had a moment of its own.

Trump's love for his hairstyle

Long before Trump became president, questions about his unusual hairstyle were already following him around.

For years, people have speculated about everything from whether the hair is real to how Trump achieves its distinctive shape and volume.

Some theories have suggested that he wears a wig or has undergone a procedure involving his scalp. 

Trump has, however, repeatedly insisted that the hair is his own.

In 2015, during a campaign event in South Carolina, he invited a woman onto the stage to inspect it after declaring, “It’s my hair! I swear!”

A year later, he took the matter to late-night television. 

During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', the famously germ-conscious Trump allowed Fallon to run his hands through his hair and vigorously mess it up.

Below is a video that shows the moment Fallon messed up Trump's hair as the audience laughed heartily.

When TIME got Trump's hair wrong

Trump has also made clear that he notices how his hair looks in photographs.

In October 2025, he criticized a TIME magazine cover featuring his image, complaining that the photograph had effectively erased his famous hairstyle.

“They ‘disappeared’ my hair,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He also objected to what he described as a tiny “floating crown” above his head, calling the image “really weird” and “super bad.”

Trump added that he had never liked photographs taken from underneath.