The Donald Trump Without Makeup meme stems from various candid photographs, most notably a 2020 image where wind caught the former president's hair, revealing a sharp contrast between his bronzed face and pale skin near the hairline. The image immediately went viral as people compared the stark tan line to everything from Neapolitan ice cream to theatrical makeup. Beyond the specific photo, the meme represents the broader internet fascination with the contrast between public persona and unpolished reality. It is frequently used to represent being caught off guard or to joke about the difference between how one looks on social media versus at home.