Friday, just before midday in the Oval Office. President Trump and President Zelensky sit on high-backed damask chairs angled cosily for a routine exchange of pleasantries.
The Ukrainian leader looks nervous and mirrors his host’s pose, leaning slightly forward, hands on lap and interlaced.
But while the proceedings begin cordially – with Trump declaring it an ‘honour’ to welcome his special guest – by their end we will witness shouted insults, threats, aspersions cast and diplomats reduced to near tears. Both men gesticulated so wildly at times that their arms crossed like flashing swords.
The extraordinary spectacle shocked the world. But was the attack on Zelensky orchestrated, a ‘planned political mugging’, as one diplomatic observer put it?
Certainly, Zelensky was warned beforehand to be on his guard.
And there were some tell-tale clues that not all was as it seemed. Perhaps the biggest was Trump’s sly wink to American reporter Brian Glenn who riled Zelensky – wearing military-style clothing – by asking: ‘Why don’t you wear a suit… Do you own a suit?’
Glenn, incidentally, just happens to be the boyfriend of far-Right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who tweeted afterwards about how proud she was of him.
It didn’t augur well when, earlier, an SUV disgorged Zelensky outside the White House and Trump greeted him sarcastically: ‘Oh, you’re all dressed up.’
American reporter Brian Glenn (pictured top right in royal blue suit) riled Zelensky – wearing military-style clothing – by asking: ‘Why don’t you wear a suit… Do you own a suit?’
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington
During the meeting Brian Glenn (pictured), who is the boyfriend of far-Right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, asked why Zelensky didn’t wear a suit
President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sat side by side in front of the fireplace in the Oval Office
But while Glenn was hectoring, bordering on nasty even, this was surely just standard Trump banter. In any case there was serious business to discuss, and the signing of a new agreement on rare-earth minerals.
Once inside, Trump turned on the charm and introduced his guest to Vice-President JD Vance and numerous officials.
In the West Wing, meanwhile, chefs were busy laying out plates of rosemary chicken, celery root puree and collard greens – a lunch, as it turned out, Zelensky would never get to sample.
Taking their seats in the Oval Office, it was time for Trump and Zelensky to face the cameras.
At first Trump flattered his guest, praising his brave soldiers, ‘your generals and yourself in the sense that it’s been very hard fighting. You should be very proud.’ Zelensky: ‘I am proud.’
Naturally, Trump couldn’t help but turn the spotlight on himself, declaring after two minutes that the Russian invasion would never have happened if he’d been president at the time. Now, though, he just wants to ‘stop the shooting’.
After three minutes and 12 seconds of Trump, his guest was finally given the opportunity to say his piece.
Putin is a terrorist and killer, he said, and glanced at the most powerful man in Western world adding: ‘I hope together we can stop him… and save our country.’
Zelensky showed Trump a succession of photographs of captured Ukrainian soldiers
The Ukrainian President said he will not wear a suit until the war in Ukraine is over
After nearly eight minutes, the floor was opened to questions from reporters
He went on to show Trump a succession of photographs of captured Ukrainian soldiers. Trump, stony-faced, nodded: ‘Hmm.’
After nearly eight minutes, the floor is opened to questions from reporters.
What about long-term security for Ukraine? Trump said the Russian president is very serious about a deal.
Might this be a good time for Zelensky to show similar enthusiasm? Trump thinks so. And to honour his hosts peacekeeping efforts? Definitely.
Zelensky did neither and struck out on a different path, praising Europe for its support during the war. ‘They really gave a lot.’
Trump leant towards him. ‘But they gave much less [than the US].’ This brought a light ripple of laughter. Only 15 minutes had passed but some were already beginning to detect an edge in the air.
Zelensky was asked if he felt Trump was ‘on his side at the moment’. The US President himself stressed that he preferred to be seen as mediator.
It was on this matter that Glenn popped up with an easy question for Trump about his possible legacy as a peacemaker.
Mr Trump’s ‘rottweiler’, the US Vice-President JD Vance, could scarcely withhold his contempt for Zelensky
President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting in the Oval Office involved 50 minutes of arguing, finger-wagging and fury
The day started off amicably: President Donald Trump welcomed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House
‘I hope I will be remembered as a peacemaker… I am doing this to save lives… Thank you Brian for that question, it was a nice question…what was your second question?’
It was then that Glenn badgered the bemused Ukrainian about his attire. ‘You’re at the highest level in this country’s office and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?’
Zelensky asked if his interrogator has a problem. ‘A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office,’ pushed Glenn.
Using levity as the best weapon, Zelensky neatly stifled this line of attack: ‘I will wear costume after this war will finish…
‘Maybe something better than yours, I don’t know… maybe something cheaper.’
From this point on Zelensky’s discomfiture was clear, though, and he grew ever more irritated by Trump’s limelight hogging. Cutting in at one stage, his hand aloft, he urgently pleaded: ‘If I can answer please.’
But just as he began outlining his concerns, Trump interrupted by playfully assuring him that he likes his clothes, then going further by turning to Glenn, who he called a ‘great guy’ and told the reporter that the Ukrainian leader was ‘dressed beautifully’.
Zelensky said he prefers to talk about more ‘serious questions’ and as he tried to do just that, Trump turned to his left and looked up at Glenn and winked. Talk about giving the game away.
The tension was palpable as Mr Zelensky, speaking in broken English, explained his country’s desperate situation
Zelensky grew ever more irritated by Trump’s limelight hogging. Cutting in at one stage, his hand aloft, he urgently pleaded: ‘If I can answer please.’
Talking over the Ukrainian president, Vance told the visiting leader that it was ‘disrespectful’ for him to come to the Oval Office and make his case in front of the American media
Zelensky pressed on. After 40 minutes JD Vance chose to intervene, telling Zelensky that the war had to be ended through diplomacy. It was then that it all went downhill. What kind of diplomacy, Zelensky replied.
Talking over the Ukrainian president, Vance told the visiting leader that it was ‘disrespectful’ for him to come to the Oval Office and make his case in front of the American media.
He demanded that he thank Trump – ‘who is trying to save your country’ – for his leadership.
By now in defensive pose, arms crossed, Zelensky looked stunned. ‘Please… you think if you speak very loudly about the war…’
Trump then said: ‘He is not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble… You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.’
At one point, Trump, his voice rising in anger, made a foray into Zelensky’s personal space, appearing to shove his upper arm.
‘The problem is I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.
‘Your people are very brave but you’ve either got to make a deal or we’re out and if we’re out you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.’
A minute later he added: ‘This is going to be great television I will say that.’
And that’s where it ended. As the two men went their separate ways, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, were dispatched to the Roosevelt Room to tell Zelensky the rest of the day’s events would be cancelled.
And off he went. His White House visit had lasted just one hour and 39 minutes.
Churchill also refused to dress up for the White House
By Caroline Graham, US Editor
President Zelensky may have been accused of disrespecting Donald Trump when he wore a black sweatshirt and cargo trousers to the White House rather than a suit – but supporters say the Ukrainian leader was following a strong precedent set by Winston Churchill.
Britain’s wartime leader wore a khaki air-raid suit to visit US President Franklin D Roosevelt in January 1942.
Churchill – whose bust Trump reinstated in the Oval Office – called it his ‘siren suit’, saying: ‘I can get into it in half a minute’ when the air-raid warning sounded.
Trump was said to have been ‘irritated’ by Zelensky’s outfit and was caught saying mockingly: ‘He’s all dressed up today’ when the Ukrainian leader arrived at the White House.
At one point, Trump, his voice rising in anger, made a foray into Zelensky’s personal space, appearing to shove his upper arm
Mr Zelensky visited Washington to discuss security arrangements following a possible ceasefire
Multiple reports in the US say advisers begged Zelensky to wear a suit ‘as a mark of respect for Trump’, but he declined.
A source said last night: ‘Trump made a joke before things turned nasty that he liked how Zelensky was dressed but in private you could tell he felt disrespected.
‘For Trump, how you present yourself is everything. He’s always in a suit, even having Sunday brunch at Mar-a-Lago. The only time I’ve seen him not in a suit is when he’s playing golf.
‘For Zelensky to turn up in a casual sweater is highly disrespectful to America which has given billions to Ukraine. Zelensky’s clothing didn’t help Trump’s mood.’
