Photos of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wearing a red lace dress during a recent briefing have gone viral on Chinese social media — not for the outfit’s design, but for where it was reportedly made.
The images, which were uploaded on X after originating from platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu on Apr. 16, were swiftly dissected by eagle-eyed users who claimed the dress — made by UK brand Self-Portrait — was at least partially manufactured in China.
‘Buying China is life’
Designed by Malaysia-born fashion designer Han Chong, the outfit featured black lace trimmings that some netizens say are characteristic of Chinese textile work.
The conversation gained traction after China’s consul-general in Denpasar, Indonesia, Zhang Zhisheng, posted a tweet drawing attention to the dress’s origin.
Accusing China is business. Buying China is life,” he wrote sarcastically alongside several screenshots and photos of Leavitt’s outfit.
Accusing China is business.
— Zhang Zhisheng 张志昇 (@salahzhang) April 14, 2025
Buying China is life.
The beautiful lace on the dress was recognized by an employee of a Chinese company as its product. pic.twitter.com/SfPyM4M02Z
Made in China?
He also claimed that a factory worker in Mabu, China, had identified the lace as one of their products.
In response to a netizen accusing the design of being stolen from a designer brand, the OP shared a screenshot indicating that the official website of that costume shows it was made in China.
The incident has since sparked accusations of hypocrisy toward the Trump administration, which has often taken a hardline stance on China in both trade and political rhetoric.
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