Republicans have heavily criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not wearing a suit during his visit to the Oval Office on Friday—a common refrain conservative lawmakers have used during previous visits from the Ukrainian leader. However, there’s a reason for why Zelensky opts for a more “casual” attire.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment by email on Saturday evening.
The Context
Republicans hit out at Zelensky for his attire and setting the wrong tone ahead of his sit-down with President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders were expected to sign a much-touted deal to allow the U.S. to access and mine Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits. This would have theoretically allowed the U.S. to recoup the costs put towards supporting Kyiv during its defense against Russia’s invasion that began in February 2022.
Instead, Zelensky and Trump ended up arguing openly in front of reporters, and Vice President JD Vance scolded Zelensky for not being “thankful” for U.S. support.
Following the argument, Zelensky departed the White House without signing the deal or having lunch, which had been prepared and was waiting for the conclusion of the Oval Office meeting.
What Was Zelensky Wearing?
Zelensky arrived at the White House wearing a black sweater with two buttons that featured the Ukrainian trident—a prominent element of the nation’s flag and a symbol of power and authority—in addition to black cargo pants and boots.
The attire, while appearing underdressed, was actually a more refined version of what Zelensky had worn during earlier visits to the United States during the Biden administration. During those visits, Zelensky wore a simple sweatshirt—also embroidered with the trident.
He has worn this attire throughout the ongoing war as a show of solidarity with his soldiers who have risked their lives on the frontline.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
What Did People Say About Zelensky’s Attire?
Trump greeted Zelensky and remarked on his attire, sarcastically saying, “You’re all dressed up today,” and laughing.
In the Oval Office, Brian Glenn, a commentator for conservative outlet Real America’s Voice and boyfriend of GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, asked Zelensky: “Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re in the highest level of this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit? I just want to see, do you own a suit?”
He added: “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting this office.”
Zelensky responded: “I will wear costume after this war will finish. Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better, I don’t know. We will see. Maybe something cheaper.”
Some have noted that Zelensky may have said “kostyum,” which means “suit” in Ukrainian,” according to the BBC.
Greene chimed in after the event, posting on X, formerly Twitter: “I’m so proud of [Brian Glenn] for pointing out that Zelensky has so much disrespect for America that he can’t even wear a suit in the Oval Office when he comes to beg for money from our President!!”
I’m so proud of @brianglenntv for pointing out that Zelensky has so much disrespect for America that he can’t even wear a suit in the Oval Office when he comes to beg for money from our President!! pic.twitter.com/BxYTATWlgi
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 28, 2025
On Saturday morning, Glenn doubled down, writing in a statement on X that he knows “Zelensky has worn the green jumpsuit (or something similar) on every occasion when meeting other world leaders, dressed respectfully for the occasion,” but insisted that it still showed Zelensky’s “inner disrespect for not only our country, the President and the US citizens that have made it possible for Ukraine to survive as long as they have to this point. (Financially speaking).”
During Friday’s episode of NewsNight with Abby Phillip, the CNN host said she found it “amazing” that “this is even a conversation we are having.”
One of Phillip’s guests, Independent Veterans of America CEO Paul Rieckhoff, said that he “didn’t even want to focus” on “what was worn,” while another guest, GOP political strategist Melik Abdul, said this is “something people have talked about since the start of the war.”
Abdul said he thought Zelensky “looked good” and quoted Trump as saying that Zelensky looked “nice.”
Have People Previously Criticized Zelensky’s Attire?
Some people have criticized Zelensky’s attire since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In 2023, Vance posted about Zelensky’s attire and wrote on X: “Look I know [Senator Chuck] Schumer changed the dress code but letting someone in the senate chamber dressed like this really crosses the line.”
In 2022, Then-Newsmax host Benny Johnson wrote on X that Zelensky was an “ungrateful piece of s***” who didn’t “have the decency to wear a suit to the White House – no respect the country that is funding his survival. Track suit wearing eastern european con-man mafia. Our leaders fell for it. They have disgraced us all. What an incredible insult.”
Economist and global strategist Peter Schiff at the time wrote that Zelensky “flew to the U.S. aboard a U.S. government private jet, arrived at the White House in a Chauffeur Driven SUV, yet showed up wearing a sweatshirt. It’s better than a t-shirt, but I still maintain the proper attire is a suit.”
The BBC reported that Zelensky’s “casual dress sense has long been an irritant for critics of US aid to Ukraine, and after years becoming a conservative talking point.”
Comparisons to Winston Churchill and Elon Musk
Many have drawn comparisons between Zelensky and wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and those comparisons resurfaced following the White House blowup.
Users on X were quick to post pictures of Churchill visiting the White House while wearing his “siren suit,” a one-piece body suit that was made to deal with running into and out of the air raid shelters during Germany’s bombing raids.
There is a lot of nonsense commentary on the fact that President Zelensky wore his trademark informal combat gear to the White House. Here’s a snapshot of unarguably the greatest leader of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill, doing exactly the same on a visit to FDR. pic.twitter.com/lI5eM6vDmA
— Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. (@stavridisj) March 1, 2025
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis on X wrote: “There is a lot of nonsense commentary on the fact that President Zelensky wore his trademark informal combat gear to the White House. Here’s a snapshot of unarguably the greatest leader of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill, doing exactly the same on a visit to FDR.”
Others noted that while Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters appear to have an issue with Zelensky’s casual attire, they’ve had no such qualms about Elon Musk wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap to Cabinet meetings or while addressing reporters in the Oval Office.
British broadcaster and former tabloid newspaper editor Piers Morgan responded to a post from the Libs of TikTok X account that posted Glenn’s exchange with Zelensky, writing: “Absurd question. Elon Musk doesn’t wear a suit in the Oval Office.”