The Ukrainian president 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, Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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 track.
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 don’t you wear a suit”, accusing him of having a lack of respect for America.
“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”.
Image: 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
Why doesn’t Zelenskyy wear a suit?
Mr Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019, is often seen wearing olive green jumpers, emblazoned with the Ukrainian trident, alongside combat boots.
It is a signal to the world that his country is still at war. It reflects his solidarity with the armed forces and those fighting on the frontline.
The casual attire serves as a reminder that Ukraine is an active battlefield.
While Mr Zelenskyy did wear suits before the war, reflecting his role as head of state, he has stated he will not return to doing so until the war has ended.
Image: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte with Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside Notre Dame Cathedral. Pic: AP
In December, he wore a similar outfit for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, as well as for his meeting with then President-elect Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
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.
Image: 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 is now due to travel to the UK for a summit with European leaders on Sunday.
