When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House on Monday, he found himself face-to-face with a familiar critic: right-wing reporter Brian Glenn, who had previously mocked his choice of attire during a tense meeting with President Donald Trump earlier this year.
This time, though, the exchange felt very different — both in tone and appearance.
“You look fabulous in that suit,” Glenn told Zelensky, a notable shift from his earlier criticism.
Trump, standing nearby, chimed in: “I said the same thing. Isn’t that nice? That’s the one that attacked you last time.”
Dressed in a black field jacket, shirt, and slacks, Zelensky playfully responded: “You are in the same suit. I changed, you did not.”
The lighthearted moment was a stark contrast to their February meeting, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance had publicly scolded Zelensky, accusing him of being ungrateful and resistant to peace negotiations with Russia. That clash began, in part, with Trump taking issue with Zelensky’s military-style outfit.
Since the start of the war, Zelensky has been recognized worldwide for his olive or black military shirts and cargo pants — a deliberate choice symbolizing solidarity with Ukraine’s troops. But when he wore his standard attire to the White House in February, Trump bristled. Greeting Zelensky, he remarked sarcastically, “Oh, you’re all dressed up.”
Before the conversation escalated into a shouting match, Glenn pressed Zelensky on why he wasn’t wearing a suit. Zelensky replied in English: “I will wear a costume after this war will finish, yes… Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better. I don’t know, we will see. Maybe something cheaper. Thank you.”
The fallout from that meeting was swift, prompting Zelensky to move into damage control, repeatedly expressing gratitude to Trump and the United States while adjusting his approach for future encounters.
In subsequent appearances with Trump this year — from Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican to a NATO summit in the Netherlands — Zelensky opted for more formal attire. According to European officials, some leaders even advised him on how best to engage with Trump.
On Monday, his efforts extended beyond wardrobe. Zelensky presented Trump with a golf club once owned by a Ukrainian soldier who had lost his leg early in the Russian invasion, a gift carefully chosen to appeal to Trump’s well-known passion for golf.
US and Ukrainian officials had also coordinated beforehand, agreeing that Zelensky should avoid his usual combat-ready look. The adjustment seemed to pay off.
Even Glenn, who once criticized him, softened his stance. “I apologize to you,” he said. “You look wonderful.”
