I'll dress like a woman when you act like a president, police officer tells Trump

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Picture of woman in police uniformImage source, Elizabeth Rooney
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Police officer Elizabeth Rooney felt the comments were "misogynistic and unpresidential"

It seems President Trump has high standards when it comes to the way his staff are dressed. Looking the part is as important as acting the part when you are in the president's circle, apparently.

But his reported requirement that his female staff "should dress like women" has provoked an inevitable backlash on social media.

According to a former Trump campaign worker, quoted in a news report by Axios, external, the president wants the men who work for him to wear ties and the women to dress "appropriately".

Dresses are apparently preferred, but if a female staffer wears jeans, they must "look neat and orderly", the publication reported.

The internet responded in a powerful way, with many using the hashtag #DressLikeAWoman.

'Misogynistic' remarks

Elizabeth Rooney, a police officer in Worcester, Massachusetts, and army veteran, posted a photo of her in uniform.

She told the BBC: "I'll start dressing like a woman when he starts acting like a president. I felt his remarks that women should "dress like a woman" are misogynistic and unpresidential.

"Each morning when I wake up, I dress myself in pride, honour, duty and freedom."

Image source, Bay Area News Group. Photo: Jane Tyska
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Dr Judy Melinek tweeted "Yes I'm doing an autopsy wearing pearls."

The hashtag has already generated more than 130,000 tweets since early on Friday.

One of the first tweets was by @NJGirlSEliza whose army uniform selfie has been retweeted nearly 2,000 times.

Others followed suit by posting pictures of themselves in their own work attire or of other inspirational women.

Image source, @geekygirlengineer/Twitter
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"This is how you #DressLikeAWoman when there is hazardous waste"

Dr Rebecca Alleyne posted a photo of herself in scrubs during surgery. She told the BBC: "I believe in social media as a change agent and a photo is an efficient means for making a point. I've had a very positive reaction, only one or two negatives.

"I want women everywhere to be judged on their abilities, not on what they're wearing. I believe that, no matter who's issuing the dress code."

Image source, @BeckyAlleyneMD/Twitter
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Dr Rebecca Alleyne in Los Angeles responded to Trump's alleged comment with this picture of her at work

There were some voices in favour of the more gender-appropriate approach, but the majority of comments appeared to mock the remarks, which have not been confirmed as coming from President Trump, which they perceived to be sexist.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Elizabeth Rooney as being a police officer in Boston.

By Rozina Sini, BBC News UGC and Social News team