Reporter shares response after President Zelenskyy had brutal answer when asked why he didn’t wear a suit to White House
Volodymyr Zelensky was met with applause on the internet for his reaction to a query posed by a correspondent from the United States White House regarding his choice of attire while he was in Washington, District of Columbia.
While the heated meeting on Friday (February 28) between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump primarily focused on critical issues like war and trade, it’s Zelensky’s social media wardrobe that has unexpectedly stolen the spotlight.
During the heated exchange, Chief White House Correspondent Brian Glenn, with members of Trump’s Cabinet watching, took the opportunity to question Zelensky about his casual attire. “Why don’t you wear a suit?” Glenn asked, pressing further, “You refuse to wear a suit, even though you’re the highest-ranking official in your country’s administration. Do you even own one?”
Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Vice President J.D. Vance laughed, but Zelensky remained composed and shot back, “What’s the problem?” Glenn responded, “Many Americans are concerned you’re not showing respect for this office,” and he confirmed his own statement.
Zelensky’s response was quick and confident: “When this war is over, I will wear a suit. It might even be something better—or perhaps more affordable—than what you have. We’ll see.”
When Zelensky first arrived at the White House, Trump made a lighthearted comment to the awaiting media, saying, “He’s all dressed up today!” This remark came shortly before Trump expressed his appreciation for Zelensky’s attire during their private meeting in the Oval Office. Zelensky, ever the calm diplomat, simply responded with a casual, “Oh really?”
Later, a video clip of Brian Glenn questioning both leaders after their meeting went viral on X, amassing around 10 million views in just one day.
As the video ignited an online debate, many supporters quickly rallied to Zelensky’s defense. Critics were quick to point out that Elon Musk, often seen in casual attire, wasn’t subjected to the same scrutiny. On X, one user asked, “What’s Elon Musk’s excuse for wearing a t-shirt and a hat to a Cabinet meeting?” Another chimed in, “Why wasn’t Elon asked the same question?” Their comments seemed to shift the focus from Zelensky to broader, perhaps more familiar, standards.
A third supporter added their voice to the growing chorus, arguing:
“When Elon Musk can stroll into a Cabinet meeting wearing a baseball cap and a t-shirt, no one has any business criticizing President Zelensky’s wardrobe! Maybe someone should ask Musk if he even owns a suit, and why he never wears one!”
Despite this, there were plenty of voices supporting Glenn’s viewpoint, insisting that Zelensky should have dressed more “respectfully” for such a high-profile visit.
One commenter blasted Zelensky, saying, “He’s not just arrogant; he’s outright cocky with an awful attitude. He showed nothing but disdain and complete disrespect toward the President of the United States by showing up to the White House dressed like that.” Another added, “It’s like he’s giving the country the middle finger—this kind of disrespect is uncalled for.”
An even angrier user joined the fray, simply asking, “Is this guy even serious?” A question that clearly resonated with many.
Many people are both intrigued and frustrated by Zelensky’s casual attire, arguing that it’s inappropriate for someone in such a prominent government position. To many, this comes across as disrespectful.
Additionally, some have suggested that Zelensky may have misunderstood Glenn’s question on X. Since the word “suit” translates to “kostyum” in Ukrainian, it’s possible his sarcastic response was slightly misinterpreted in the exchange.
