Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised to wear a suit to the White House and Donald Trump was offended when he didn’t, according to reports.
Ahead of the historic meeting, the Ukrainian president was advised by Trump’s team to ditch his usual military-style clothing for something more formal, Axios reports.
However, he didn’t, instead opting to wear all black.
This irritated Mr Trump ahead of what quickly became a car crash of a meeting, according to two sources who spoke to Axios.
Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands, it was Mr Zelenskyy’s outfit that seemed to set the meeting off on a bad footing.
As Mr Trump shook Mr Zelenskyy’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: “He is all dressed up today.”
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Then, during the disastrous press conference, reporter Brian Glenn asked Mr Zelenskyy why he doesn’t wear a suit and accused him of having a lack of respect for America.
Mr Zelenskyy, pictured during his inauguration, has dressed formally in the past, but ditched the suits after Russia invaded his country in 2022. Pic: AP
“I will wear a costume when this war is finished,” the Ukrainian leader responded. “Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better. Maybe something cheaper.”
In Ukrainian, the word “kostium” – pronounced “costume” – means “suit”.
Mr Glenn – who is dating far-right congresswoman and conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene – later issued a statement saying: “President Zelenskyy has worn the green jumpsuit (or something similar) on every occasion when meeting other world leaders, dressed respectfully for the occasion.
“For him, once again, to enter the highest office in the most powerful nation in the world, dressed as he did, reflects his inner disrespect for not only our country, the President and the US citizens that have made it possible for Ukraine to survive as long as they have to this point. (Financially speaking).”
His girlfriend, Ms Greene also tweeted a video of the interaction, saying she was “proud” of him.
“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!!” she added.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte with Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside Notre Dame Cathedral. Pic: AP
Elon Musk and Churchill
Many social media users were quick to point out that Elon Musk did not wear a suit during his recent visit to the Oval Office.
Images also began circulating of Winston Churchill visiting the White House during the Second World War, dressed in a wartime “siren suit”.
Churchill wore the one-piece air raid outfit during a visit to President Franklin D Roosevelt, in which he hoped to persuade the American public to join the war.
Winston Churchill, smoking a cigar, at the White House, wearing a wartime ‘siren suit’. Pic: AP
Ironically, a bust of Churchill was present in the room during the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which ended in the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House without agreeing to the deal on minerals he had flown 5,000 miles to seal.
Mr Zelenskyy has now arrived in the UK for a summit with European leaders on Sunday.