A reporter confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office about why he didn't feel it necessary to dress appropriately for such a high-level meeting.
Vance broke out in laughter over the inquiry.
"My second question for President Zelensky. Do you ever. Why don’t you wear a suit?" asked Real America’s Voice White House correspondent Brian Glenn.
"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. I just wanted to see ... Do you own a suit!?"
Vance immediately began chuckling, but Zelensky didn't seem amused and responded condescendingly.
"Do you have problems?" the Ukrainian leader shot back.
Undeterred, Glenn continued: "A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting this office."
"I will wear a costume after this war will finish," Zelensky snidely responded.
This was before the fireworks that ensued.
Q: "Why don't you wear a suit?"
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 28, 2025
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: "I will wear costume after this war will finish." pic.twitter.com/FzJqjIAQHa
WHOA: Fox Reporter's Backstory on Trump-Zelensky Meeting Shows Just How Mad Trump Was
Zelensky dressing like he's trying to outdo Senator John Fetterman has been a point of contention for some time. Supporters suggest he's trying to remind people that he is currently on a war footing. Critics have pointed out that when you're fleecing the American taxpayer to the tune of billions of dollars, at least have the respect to dress appropriately when meeting with our Commander-in-Chief.
Conservatives lashed out when Zelensky met with former President Joe Biden in 2022 and donned military fatigues.
Trump noted that at least he "dressed up" for today's visit, though that entailed sporting a black sweater similar to the fatigues. It's like going to church wearing a pair of jeans and pretending they're at least your "dress jeans."
On Friday, the President greeted Zelensky at the White House, telling him, “Oh look, you’re all dressed up.”
Wow!!! 😂😂😂
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) February 28, 2025
Trump: “You’re all dressed up today.” pic.twitter.com/zDTX1OQs4p
What the Heck Was Zelensky Thinking?
Zelensky Attempts Oval Office Grandstanding; Finds Out Trump and Vance Don't Play That Game
Zelensky clearly failed to read the room here. But he's been misreading it, to his own country's detriment, since he began negotiating with a president who isn't going to roll over to his every whim.
The lack of respect has been a theme leading up to today's disastrous play on his part. Aside from failing to wear a suit to show respect, Zelensky reportedly "slept in" when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met him in Kyiv to offer the mineral rights deal they were supposed to sign today.
Axios reports, "Trump later told reporters Zelensky was 'rude' and delayed his meeting with Bessent because he slept in."
Zelensky also told reporters last week that President Trump "unfortunately lives in this disinformation space."
He followed all of this up with, as Fox's Jacqui Heinrich relayed earlier on X, more condescension and disrespect by "shrugging and rolling his eyes" during today's meeting.
"The president and US officials felt disrespected by Zelensky’s rhetoric and demeanor," Heinrich noted.
If only he had taken the time to throw on a suit.
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