Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/JIM WATSON/Getty Images/Andrew Harnik
Topics: World News, Politics, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, US News
Callum Jones
Topics: World News, Politics, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, US News
The White House has issued a response after many have claimed 'double standards' for Elon Musk following the controversy of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not wearing a suit in the Oval Office last week.
The Ukrainian leader was invited to the White House by President Trump in the hope of discussing a peace deal that would see the end of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But in the fiery conversation broadcast across the world, the 47th POTUS accused Zelenskyy of 'gambling with World War 3', while Vice President JD Vance insisted that Zelenskyy was treating both Trump and the US with disrespect and persistently called on the Ukrainian to 'thank' the president.
Advert
"I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media…You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict," Vance added.
Zelenskyy’s attire was also a topic of conversation in the Oval Office, with the Ukrainian president having consistently worn military-style attire since the war broke out in February 2022.
During the conference when media had the opportunity to ask questions, right-wing reporter Brian Glenn asked the leader: "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?
"A lot of Americans have problems, with you not respecting the dignity of this office."
Zelenskyy said he would wear a suit once the war is over, as he added: "Maybe something like yours, maybe something better, maybe something cheaper."
Now, this is where Elon Musk comes into the whole debacle.
Musk, who heads up Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been known to attend cabinet meetings in more casual attire - such as t-shirts and baseball caps - something which was brought up by the media during a recent White House press conference.
Fox News’ senior correspondent Peter Doocy put to White House secretary Karoline Leavitt: "You know that some officials here were miffed that Zelensky showed up last week without a suit for his meeting in the Oval Office. But Elon Musk never wears a suit."
Leavitt quickly intervened and stated Musk 'did last night' - the night Trump made his speech to Congress.
The press secretary was pushed on whether Musk had decided to wear a suit as a result of Zelenskyy's attire in the previous week.
"No, I don’t think so," she said. "I’m just pointing out that he did wear a suit last night and I think the president liked that very much and he looked great."