On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump complimented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s attire during their White House meeting, remarking that his jacket was “very stylish.”
The two dignitaries convened in the Cabinet Room for a much-anticipated discussion alongside senior officials from both nations. Known for his signature dark, military-inspired shirts, Zelensky chose to wear a suit jacket this time, notably without a tie.
Trump seemed genuinely impressed, stating after Zelensky’s remarks, “Thank you. I think he looks fantastic in that jacket. It’s really sharp. I hope everyone notices-it’s very stylish.”
According to LEADERSHIP, this lighthearted moment stood in stark contrast to their tense encounter in February, when Zelensky faced criticism from conservative commentators for arriving without a jacket.
Back then, Brian Glenn, White House bureau chief for the conservative Real America’s Voice network, questioned Zelensky’s wardrobe choice.
“Why don’t you wear a suit? You hold one of the highest offices in your country, yet you refuse to wear a suit? I’m curious-do you even own one?” Glenn had asked.
When Zelensky returned to the White House in August, he seemed to respond to the earlier controversy by donning a coordinated jacket and shirt-still without a tie. This sartorial improvement earned praise from the same reporter who had previously criticized him.
“President Zelensky, you look fantastic in that suit,” Glenn remarked during the Oval Office press event. Trump quickly chimed in with a laugh, “I said the same thing. And he’s the one who criticized you last time.”
The amicable atmosphere during Friday’s meeting was seen by analysts as a sign of a “warming trend” in relations between the two leaders, following a rocky start earlier this year.
