Twitter Users Divided as Tom Steyer's Tie in the Spotlight of Democratic Debate

Businessman Tom Steyer made his first appearance during the fourth primary debate of the 2020 presidential election cycle, and immediately grabbed the attention of moderators and netizens.

Steyer, whose wealth is estimated by Forbes at $1.6 billion, sought to address income inequality, making the case for progressive policy positions, like a wealth tax.

"I was one of the first candidates on this stage to propose a wealth tax," he claimed.

Netizens, however, zoomed in on Steyer's choice of apparel – his signature red plaid tie.

In any historical shot where the billionaire philanthropist Steyer is dressed up, it's nearly impossible to find him without his signature red tie.

As the Washington Post reported in 2013, Steyer "dons Scottish ties every day — although not those bearing the tartan of his own clan, Murray, because he said it was too ugly."

Twitter users were divided on the tie issue, with many praising this particular aspect of the contender's apparel:

​Others, like Meghan McCain, did not seem to be a fan of the plaid:

​Hedge fund investor Tom Steyer is the latest billionaire to set his sights on the White House, making his way onto the debate stage on 15 October thanks to a huge campaign in the early-voting states.

Several of America’s highest-profile billionaires have flirted with running for president in the past few decades, as Mark Zuckerberg was rumoured for a while to be considering a run; the late Ross Perot, a business magnate, billionaire and philanthropist, had one of the strongest showings for a third-party candidate in 1992 and 1996.