Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with Donald Trump seemed to go a lot more smoothly compared to the February meeting which saw the Ukrainian president essentially bullied by Trump, Vance, and the media too. One particularly frustrating moment came when a reporter asked Zelenskyy why he wasn’t wearing a suit.
The question was seen as a low blow considering the siege Zelenskyy’s country was (and still is) under. Of course wearing appropriate attire is not high on the list of his priorities and Zelenskyy made the reporter who asked the question aware of that at the time, telling him, “I will wear a costume after this war [is] finished,” before pointing at the journalist and saying “maybe something like yours.”
Zelenskyy wore a formal outfit this time
Of course, the Ukrainian president was prepared for it all this time. Not only was he able to placate Trump pretty quickly with a handful of meaningful gifts, but he also came dressed to impress, perhaps more to prove a point than anything else. Zelenskyy wore a black “suit-style” jacket along with dark trousers, a stark contrast to his more casual outfit on his last visit.
Zelenskyy was also given the perfect opportunity to deliver some sass to Brian Glenn, the boyfriend of Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and the very same man who had previously mocked him for not dressing appropriately.
At one point during his recent visit to the White House, the same journalist who had asked him about his attire back in February piped up and noted how smart Zelenskyy looked in his new outfit telling him, “You look fabulous in that suit.” At that point Trump chimes in saying “That’s the one that attacked you last time,” before Zelenskyy responds, “I remember that. You’re in the same suit. I changed mine.”
The snappy response was met with laughter around the room including from Zelenskyy and Trump. On X the Ukrainian president was commended for his sense of humor with one person writing “That was pretty funny!” While another added, “Zelenskyy is self confident.” Of course people, including Brian Glenn, may laugh it off, but the sass is much deserved, let’s not forget, Marjorie Taylor Greene doubled down on her boyfriend’s comments, calling the Ukrainian leader a “beggar.”
A much more productive meeting
The general vibe in the room seemed to be significantly lighter than last time and the joke about the suit only served to further demonstrate that point. While the meeting between Trump and Putin bore practically no results, it seems relations between the U.S. and Ukraine are improving somewhat. Zelenskyy was even gifted a symbolic set of keys to the White House signifying what could be a turning point in the peace talks.
Published: Aug 19, 2025 12:31 pm