Volodymyr Zelensky has defended his decision not to wear a suit in the Oval Office after the move was branded ‘disrespectful’ by a White House reporter.
The Ukrainian president was quizzed about his lack of formal attire during a heated White House press conference with Donald Trump and JD Vance on Friday.
In a fiery exchange, Brian Glenn, Chief White House Correspondent Real America’s Voice, asked Zelensky: ‘Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re at the highest level in this country’s office and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?
‘A lot of Americans have problems, with you not respecting the dignity of this office,’ Glenn – who is the partner of Congresswoman and close Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene – added.
Responding to the criticism, the Ukrainian leader, who is often seen wearing casual combat clothes since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, said he faced more pressing problems with the war in Europe.
He added that he ‘will wear a kostium (Ukrainian for ‘suit’) after this war will finish’ and it would be ‘maybe something like yours, maybe something better, maybe something cheaper’.
In a sign of support towards Zelensky, before the meeting escalated into a tense war of words, Trump quickly came to his aid and defended the president’s clothing.
‘I do like your clothing by the way,’ Trump said. ‘I don’t know if you two like each other, but I think he (Zelensky) is dressed beautifully.’
