Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro grows beard so he's not confused with twin brother, 2020 Dem Julián Castro
TexasRep. Joaquin Castro — the twin brother of 2020candidate Julián Castro — says he's grown a beard to help anyone avoid confusing the two, which seemingly happens often enough. The Democraticcongressman, who's
served since 2013, joked last week that he was experimenting with
facial hair to differentiate himself from his brother, who's currently
on the campaign trail seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. "I
hadn’t shaved in like three days and I decided I’d just grow the beard
back – and it does help so that people don’t always think that I’m
running for president,” Joaquin told reporters on Thursday, according to USA Today. The rep said people confuse him for his brother in public places like the airport or on the street "just about every day."
Julián Castro, left, and Joaquin Castro, right, are often confused
for one another. So Joaquin decided to grow his beard back "so that
people don't always think" he's running for president.
Since Julián — who previously served as the mayor of
San Antonio, Texas, and as former President Barack Obama's Housing and
Urban Development Secretary from 2014 to 2017 — launched his 2020 bid,
many have confused the 44-year-old twins. In June, MSNBC contributor Noah Rothman apologized for mistaking Joaquin for Julián during an episode of "Morning Joe." Rothman cited a June Fox News town hall, which featured Julián, and said Joaquin claimed the Trump administration "is 'hell-bent on moving towards war with Iran." Joaquin
quickly corrected Rothman and said he hasn't spoken to Fox News about
Iran. Rothman immediately apologized and was embarrassed, but said the
mixup must happen all the time. Host
Chris Hayes, also of MSNBC, in February, asked Joaquin if he was
growing a beard "so that people don't confuse you and your twin
brother." "I said that I would try not to look like a certain presidential candidate, so I hope you like the beard here," Castro said. Hayes
said on the show that he spoke to one of the Castro brothers on midterm
election night in 2018, but he actually didn't know who he had spoken
to. Joaquin said Hayes had spoken to Julián.
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