‘Will wear a suit only after…’: Zelenskyy fires back at reporter over choice of clothing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House on Friday to finalise a deal on rare minerals, but his meeting with US President Donald Trump spiralled into a contentious clash in front of international media inside the Oval Office.

Clash over Zelenskyy’s attire

Before tensions escalated, a reporter questioned Zelenskyy about his choice of clothing, asking why he had not worn a suit to what he called the United States’ “highest level” office. “Why don’t you wear a suit? Do you own a suit?” the reporter asked, leaving Trump and US Vice President JD Vance in splits.

Zelenskyy fired back, “Do you have a problem?”

The reporter responded, “A lot of Americans have a problem with those who don’t respect the dress code of the Oval office.”

Zelenskyy then said he would wear a suit only after the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in 2022, comes to an end. “I will wear a suit only after this war finishes, yes. Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better. I don’t know, we will see. Maybe something cheaper. Thank you,” he replied.

Trump then weighed in, saying he “liked” Zelenskyy’s clothing.

The Ukrainian President’s signature outfit has been a staple at meetings with other world leaders and his address to the UN General Assembly in 2023.

The exchange sparked a debate online, with many users drawing comparisons to billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, who has attended high-level government meetings in casual attire.

“What was Elon Musk’s excuse for wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap to a cabinet meeting?” one user wrote on X. Another shared a photo of Musk at Trump’s first cabinet meeting on February 26, dressed in a casual jacket, t-shirt, and a cap bearing the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’. “Why doesn’t this guy wear a suit?” they asked.

Another user said, “No one has the right to comment on President Zelenskyy’s outfit when Elon Musk is allowed into cabinet meetings in a T-shirt and baseball cap! Why don’t they ask Musk if he owns a suit?”