German media outlets have drawn comparisons between the attire of senior US border patrol official Gregory Bovino and the aesthetic of Nazi officers. Bovino, who has led aggressive immigration operations in Minneapolis, has been seen wearing a calf-length olive green greatcoat with brass buttons, a style that differs from the standard fatigues and body armour worn by other federal agents.
Der Spiegel, in a video feature and separate article, suggested that Bovino's look, including his closely cropped haircut, recalled that of a Nazi officer. Writer Arno Frank stated that figures like Bovino are 'resorting to tried-and-tested models' to establish a 'distinctive aesthetic' for what he described as 'authoritarian intervention'. Süddeutsche Zeitung also made similar comments, noting that Bovino's outfit, including a black shirt with badges and a Sam Browne belt, completed the 'Nazi look'.
Bovino has denied any intent to convey Nazi or fascist meanings, stating he has owned the coat for many years. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, described the controversy as 'manufactured outrage' and said the coat is standard issue. However, a 2025 document detailing the Border Patrol's Uniform and Grooming Standards did not list the coat as part of any official uniform.
The discussion has also reached US political figures. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a critic of Trump's immigration enforcement policies, commented on a video featuring Bovino, stating, 'They aren't even trying to hide who they are.'
