Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump showed up smiling at their latest White House meeting.
It was a very different vibe compared to Zelenskyy’s previous visit to Washington, especially when it came to his fashion choices.
Zelenskyy’s earlier meeting with Trump went so bad
Back in February, Zelenskyy had flown in to meet Trump and ended up feeling cornered.
Trump snapped at him, warning he was “gambling with World War 3.” JD Vance also jumped in, saying Zelenskyy wasn’t thankful enough for all the U.S. had done to help Ukraine fight Russia.
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A reporter pressed him about his outfit
During that same meeting, reporter Brian Glenn called him out for not wearing a suit.
Glenn, who covers the White House for Real America’s Voice, looked at him and asked: “Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?”
The second meeting had a very different look
When Zelenskyy came back for his most recent meeting with Trump, his style had changed. This time he showed up in something more formal.
Glenn noticed right away, telling him he looked “fabulous” in the suit. Trump pointed out to Zelenskyy that Glenn was the same guy who gave him a hard time before.
Glenn tried to smooth things over but Zelenskyy hit back
Glenn offered an apology for how he acted last time. Zelenskyy then delivered the line that went viral.
“You’re wearing the same suit. I’ve changed, you have not.”
The whole room cracked up. Even Trump laughed.
The White House had wanted a sharper image
Reports later said the White House had actually asked Zelenskyy to wear a suit and tie for the meeting, but he didn’t quite comply.
He chose a shirt without a tie and a military-style jacket. Still, it was a step up compared to his last visit, when he walked in wearing a black henley with the Ukrainian trident.
Zelenskyy has his own rule about suits
Zelenskyy has said before that he won’t put on a suit again until the war with Russia is finished.
So even with the White House pressure, he kept to his own way of showing up.
People online loved his comeback
Clips of his response spread online, and people loved it just as much as those in the room did.
“What a clever way to put that reporter in his place while smiling,” one person wrote. Another said: “Zelenskyy was a comedian, he knows how to deal with hecklers.”
Others chimed in with comments like “Ukrainians = humor + dignity. Always. Even our President proves it.” Another simply called it “Absolutely epic burn by Zelenskyy.”
Glenn stayed quiet this time
Glenn hasn’t said much about the comeback. Instead, he just shared a few articles covering it, which seemed like his way of brushing it off.
That was very different from how he reacted the first time.
His earlier defense was much stronger
Right after that first exchange back in February, Glenn rushed to X (formerly Twitter) to explain himself.
He wrote: “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, but 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).”
