Zelensky roasts reporter for asking why he won’t wear suit to meet Trump: 'I'll wear a costume after war'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a dramatic exchange during his visit to the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky found himself at the center of controversy after mocking a reporter who asked why he wasn’t wearing a suit to meet President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian President Zelensky, wearing a black 3/4-zip sweater and baggy jeans, appeared offended when RSBN reporter Brian Glenn asked, ”Why don’t you wear a suit?”

Glen further asked, “You’re the highest level in this country’s office and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?”

Volodymyr Zelensky claps back at fashion criticism, joking about costume choice

With a dismissive glance, Volodymyr Zelensky shot back, "You have a problem?" before turning to the media, adding a sarcastic remark, “I will wear a costume when this war is finished. Maybe something like yours, yes? I don’t know. Maybe something better.”

When he did not receive the answer he had hoped for, the Ukrainian president added, “Maybe something cheaper.”

The moment occurred just after President Trump, dressed in his signature blue suit, white shirt, and red tie, greeted Zelensky on the White House lawn. Trump, seemingly taking notice of Zelensky's casual attire, quipped, "Look! He’s all dressed up today."

While the two leaders shook hands and posed for cameras, the interaction soon took a turn when reporters began pressing Zelensky about his choice of clothing.

Instead of directly addressing the question, Zelensky seemed to downplay the issue, focusing on his ongoing commitments in Ukraine and the broader international context.

During his visit to Washington, Zelensky had planned to finalize a mineral deal with the US that could have brought Ukraine closer to ending the war with Russia, Irish Star reported.

However, the deal fell apart after a tense meeting in which Donald Trump called Zelensky "disrespectful" and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of not properly thanking the US for its support.

Volodymyr Zelensky faces backlash after mocking reporter

As soon as the video of Volodymyr Zelensky mocking the reporter went viral on social media, users started trolling and slamming the Ukrainian president.

A user wrote, "Zelensky is wearing the “costume” right now, in the Oval Office. A suit would be the appropriate attire. He’s a clown and a puppet of the globalist war machine."

Another added, "At least show up wearing appropriate clothes! Everyone working in WH dresses accordingly out of respect for the setting. Trump remarked on it immediately, immediate bad start. Stupid mistake."

A third commentator mocked, "The real irony here is that he's wearing a costume as he says this."

"What you wear in negotiations indicates your intent. Zelenskyy wearing his uniform signals that he did not come to make a deal but to seek US support to continue the war. That was the outcome of today, and outcomes don’t lie," said a critic.

A person remarked, "I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am that he was asked about his costume. He literally sits in the Oval Office and refuses to wear a suit. It's completely disrespectful to all Americans."

Another said, "He's insinuating that every suited person is a clown. Not a good reply - for him."

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