Maybe that’s why they almost went to blows.
President Trump was ‘offended’ by Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s choice of attire when he showed up to the White House on Friday, according to reports.
The meeting between Trump, JD Vance and Zelenskyy at the Oval Office yesterday turned into something of a schoolyard shouting match, with Trump bluntly accusing Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three”.
Now, according to a report on the incident published by Axios, it appears the Ukranian leaders decision not to wear a suit caused offence to the US President.
Trump’s advisers apparently told Zelensky’s team on multiple occasions that it would be more respectful for Zelensky to ditch his military-style attire when visiting the White House.
Zelensky arrived at the White House on Friday wearing a more formal black outfit with Ukraine’s national symbol embroidered on it.
“He is all dressed up today,” Trump remarked when he shook Zelensky’s hand at the entrance to the West Wing.
The conversation between the trio took a turn when US Vice-President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” towards Trump, before adding: “You should be thanking the president”.
Zelenskyy replied by claiming that the US is protected from Russia: “You have a nice ocean, and don’t feel now but you will feel it in the future”, to which Trump came back: “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. You’re in no position to dictate that”.
Things continued to get more heated as Vance asked Zelenskyy: “Have you said thank you once?”. Trump then threatened: “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out”.
The affair ended with Zelenskyy being kicked out of the White House, with Trump later posting on social media that Zelensky should return to Washington when he is “ready for peace”.
It kicked OFF in the Oval Office with Zelenskyy and Trump
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) February 28, 2025pic.twitter.com/f1DY4yQQeG
The extraordinary scenes from the Oval Office on Friday has prompted a series of responses from European leaders.
While Keir Starmer is yet to be make a comment, a spokesperson for No 10 says the Prime Minister has spoken to both Trump and Zelenskyy and that “he retains unwavering support for Ukraine, and is doing all he can to find a path forward to a lasting peace.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump earlier this week, said: “There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine. We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago—and to keep doing so.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X that “nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do”, before adding that “Ukraine can rely on Germany – and on Europe.”
