A voice from the press section raised questions regarding President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine's attire during a meeting with President Trump and his associates on Friday. A correspondent for a right-wing cable channel asked Mr. Zelensky why he was not wearing a suit, suggesting that many Americans viewed this as a sign of disrespect for the office he holds.
The inquiry was made by Brian Glenn, who works for Real America’s Voice, a network known for promoting conspiracy theories related to voting and for distributing content from Stephen K. Bannon. Mr. Glenn's outlet was recently granted a secondary role in the White House press pool alongside CNN, a change that occurred as the White House began to selectively choose pool reporters for events.
Mr. Glenn's comments mirrored remarks made by President Trump, who noted Mr. Zelensky's attire as he arrived at the White House. Since the onset of the war, Mr. Zelensky has typically worn military uniforms to show solidarity with Ukrainian forces, leading to immediate backlash online regarding the criticism of his clothing choice.
Following the meeting, Mr. Zelensky received significant international support, despite the adversarial nature of the encounter. Critics pointed out that Elon Musk had recently attended a cabinet meeting in casual attire, highlighting a perceived double standard in the criticism directed at Mr. Zelensky.
In response to the backlash, Mr. Glenn issued a statement expressing empathy for Ukraine while continuing to criticize Mr. Zelensky's choice of clothing, arguing that it reflected a lack of respect for the United States and its citizens.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is in a relationship with Mr. Glenn, publicly supported his comments on social media, asserting that Mr. Zelensky's attire demonstrated disrespect while seeking assistance from the U.S. government.