Volodymyr Zelensky has explained his choice not to wear a suit in the Oval Office, despite facing criticism from a White House reporter who called it ‘disrespectful’.
During a tense White House press conference with Donald Trump and JD Vance, the Ukrainian president was questioned about his informal attire.
Brian Glenn, the Chief White House Correspondent at Real America’s Voice, directly asked Zelensky why he opts not to wear a suit despite holding the highest position in the country. He even went as far as questioning whether Zelensky even owns a suit.
‘A lot of Americans have problems, with you not respecting the dignity of this office,’ Glenn – who is the partner of Congresswoman and close Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene – added.
Responding to the criticism, the Ukrainian leader, who is often seen wearing casual combat clothes since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, said he faced more pressing problems with the war in Europe.
He added that he ‘will wear a kostium (Ukrainian for ‘suit’) after this war will finish’ and it would be ‘maybe something like yours, maybe something better, maybe something cheaper’.
In a sign of support towards Zelensky, before the meeting escalated into a tense war of words, Trump quickly came to his aid and defended the president’s clothing.
‘I do like your clothing by the way,’ Trump said. ‘I don’t know if you two like each other, but I think he (Zelensky) is dressed beautifully.’
Trump’s comments appeared to contradict reports that the US President was actually irritated by Zelensky’s attire.
Advisers had urged the Ukrainian leader to wear a suit as a sign of respect when visiting the White House, sources told Axios.
And when Zelensky first arrived at the entrance to the West Wing, dressed in an all black outfit and jumper emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, Trump appeared to mock him.
‘He is all dressed up today,’ the President said as he shook Zelensky’s hand.
The criticism by Glenn, who was one of several pro-Trump journalists invited into the White House Press pool after the President’s inauguration, was echoed by his partner Ms Greene.
She wrote on X shortly after the exchange: ‘I’m so proud of for pointing out that Zelensky has so much disrespect for America that he can’t even wear a suit in the Oval Office when he comes to beg for money from our President!!’
Others on social media also pointed out that when Elon Musk visited the Oval Office with Trump last month, he too did not wear a suit.
Zelensky has faced similar criticism in the past for his choice of outfits while attending major meetings with other world leaders.
In 2022, following Zelensky’s address to the US Congress, Commentator Tucker Carlson accused the Ukrainian leader of dressing like the ‘manager of a strip club demanding money’.
Meanwhile supporters of Zelensky have instead compared him to the UK Prime Minister WInston Churchill, who notably also refused to wear a suit during a visit to the White House in the midst of World War Two.
The British wartime leader wore an air-raid suit, which he referred to as his ‘siren suit’, during a visit to Washington DC to meet with President Franklin D Roosevelt in January 1942.
Ironically there is also a bust of Churchill – who President Trump has described as his hero – in the Oval Office.
Zelensky had come to the US in an effort to try to gain security guarantees in a rare earth minerals deal that Trump says will provide a form of protection by putting U.S. business interests inside his country.
During the meeting, Trump called on a U.S.-based Polish reporter who pressed him on the U.S. posture toward Russia. Trump called the question ‘stupid’.
Then later on in an exchange that lasted 50 minutes, Trump called on the same reporter – whose queries prompted Vance to say Ukraine had been ungrateful for billions in U.S. support.
Vance blamed previous Democratic U.S. administrations for failing to stop Russia, but Zelensky tried to shift the conversation back to Putin. ‘He killed people,’ he said.
‘What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about,’ the Ukrainian asked, referring to Vance by his first name rather than his formal title.
The remark set off Vance – who lectured Zelensky, and then got told off by the visitor for failing to visit Ukraine as a senator, even while many others made the pilgrimage.
‘I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country, Mr. President [Zelensky].
‘Mr. President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ said Vance.
‘Have you ever been to Ukraine that you see the problems we have?’ Zelensky asked Vance, who last April in the Senate voted against a package with $61 billion in aid for Ukraine.
‘I have been to – I’ve actually, I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people. You bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President,’ Vance shot back.
Then Trump jumped in to defend his vice president. ‘You’ve allowed to be in a very bad position, and it happens to be right about that. YOu’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.’
Vance blamed previous Democratic U.S. administrations for failing to stop Russia, but Zelensky tried to shift the conversation back to Putin. ‘He killed people,’ he said.
‘What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about,’ the Ukrainian asked, referring to Vance by his first name rather than his formal title.
‘I’m not playing cards,’ Zelensky responded, speaking over him.
‘Have you said thank you once?’ Vance blasted Zelensky at one point in the conflagration.
‘Just say thank you,’ Vance told him. ‘I said it a lot of times,’ Zelensky responded.
Zelensky’s first words had been: ‘Thank you so much, Mr. President, thank you for the invitation’ – although Vance appeared to be seeking gratitude for the massive infusion of military aid.
