The first remark President Donald Trump made when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stepped out of his car at the White House on Friday was about his attire.
"You're all dressed up today," Trump commented, referring to Zelensky’s military-style black sweatshirt adorned with the Ukrainian trident.
Since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, Zelensky has consistently avoided wearing suits, button-down shirts, or ties, even during high-profile meetings with world leaders and his address to the US Congress. He has stated that his choice of military clothing symbolizes solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield.
However, his outfit has long been a point of contention among critics of US aid to Ukraine. What had previously been a talking point among certain right-wing commentators took center stage during Friday’s widely publicized Oval Office meeting with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.
According to BBC reporters present, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically when a US journalist questioned Zelensky about whether his attire was inappropriate for the occasion. Shortly after, broader issues of respect and gratitude escalated into a heated exchange, with the US president and vice president reprimanding their European ally in front of global television audiences.
When the floor was opened to reporters, Brian Glenn, chief White House correspondent for the conservative cable network Real America's Voice, posed a pointed question.
"Why don’t you wear a suit?" Glenn asked. "You're in the highest office in this country, yet you refuse to wear one. Do you even own a suit? Many Americans feel you are not respecting the dignity of this office."
The line of questioning appeared to frustrate Zelensky, who had previously maintained a diplomatic and even cordial tone with Trump.
"I will wear a suit after this war is over," he replied. (The Ukrainian word for "suit" translates to "kostyum.")
Zelensky then took a jab at the reporter, quipping, "Maybe something like yours, yes. Maybe something better, I don't know," prompting laughter in the room. "Maybe something cheaper."
