Trump ‘offended’ by Zelenskyy not wearing a suit in White House

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was advised to wear a suit to the White House and Donald Trump was offended when he didn’t, according to reports.

Ahead of the historic meeting, the Ukrainian president was advised by Trump’s team to ditch his usual military-style clothing for something more formal, Axios reports.

However, he didn’t, instead opting to wear all black.

This irritated Mr Trump ahead of what quickly became a car crash of a meeting, according to two sources who spoke to Axios.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands, it was Mr Zelenskyy’s outfit that seemed to set the meeting off on a bad footing.

As Mr Trump shook Mr Zelenskyy’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing, he said: “He is all dressed up today.”

Ukraine latest: Trump mocks ‘big shot’ Zelenskyy after fiery White House clash

Then, during the disastrous press conference, Brian Glenn, who is the chief White House correspondent for right-wing website Real America’s Voice, asked Mr Zelenskyy why he doesn’t wear a suit and accused him of having a lack of respect for America.

“I will wear a costume when this war is finished,” the Ukrainian leader responded. “Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better. Maybe something cheaper.”

In Ukrainian, the word “kostium” – pronounced “costume” – means “suit”.

Mr Glenn – who is dating far-right congresswoman and conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene – later issued a statement saying: “President Zelenskyy has worn the green jumpsuit (or something similar) on every occasion when meeting other world leaders, dressed respectfully for the occasion.

“For him, once again, to enter the highest office in the most powerful nation in the world, dressed as he did, reflects his 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).”

His girlfriend, Ms Greene also tweeted a video of the interaction, saying she was “proud” of him.

She added: “Zelenskyy 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!!”

Russian state media entered Oval Office

The White House selected only certain journalists to be present in the room during the press conference, in line with its new approach to media coverage.

Reuters and AP, two of the most established news agencies in the world, were banned from entering, but a Russian state media reporter was allowed inside – albeit briefly.

“TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool,” a White House official said. “As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the Press Secretary. He is not on the approved list for the press conference.”

The White House did not explain how he had been able to gain access unapproved.

The administration has clashed with journalists, notable removing AP from the White House pool after it declined to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Elon Musk and Churchill

Many social media users were quick to point out that Elon Musk did not wear a suit during his recent visit to the Oval Office.

Images also began circulating of Winston Churchill visiting the White House during the Second World War, dressed in a wartime “siren suit”.

Churchill wore the one-piece air raid outfit during a visit to President Franklin D Roosevelt, in which he hoped to persuade the American public to join the war.

Ironically, a bust of Churchill was present in the room during the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which ended in the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House without agreeing to the deal on minerals he had flown 5,000 miles to seal.

Mr Zelenskyy has now arrived in the UK for a summit with European leaders on Sunday.