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Topics: Politics, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US News
The White House has come out to explain Elon Musk’s choice of clothing after the whirlwind argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump warned Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he's 'gambling' with World War III' as the leaders spoke in the Oval Office to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Joined by the Vice President JD Vance, Trump and Zelenskyy clashed in a row, where the former told the latter he was 'disrespectful'.
"You're gambling with millions of people seeing you gambling with World War Three. You're gambling with World War Three," Trump told Zelenskyy.
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Questions then turned to Zelenskyy's attire, which consisted of an all-black casual look with an insignia on his top.
“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?”, said Chief White House correspondent Brian Glenn during the meeting.
He added: “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”
Zelenskyy then shared that he would wear a suit, known as a ‘kostium’, ‘after this war will finish’.
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The Ukrainian president got in a dig at Glenn, stating that it would be ‘maybe something like yours, maybe something better, maybe something cheaper’.
Meanwhile, Trump didn’t appear to be too fussed about the attire of those in the room, and said ‘you’re all dressed today’ in greeting.
However, when Zelenskyy and Glenn were exchanging their jabs, Trump interjected to Glenn, ‘I do like your clothing by the way’ and later said of Zelenskyy: “I don’t know if you two like each other, but I think he is dressed beautifully.”
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But many couldn’t help but notice that another person who is involved in the White House and frequents it often also does not wear a suit but has not been called out.
That person is Elon Musk.
A senior White House correspondent asked about this apparent double standard five days after Zelenskyy’s conversation with the president.
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Fox News journalist Peter Doocy told Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “We know some officials here were mad that Zelenskyy showed up last week without a suit for his meeting in the Oval Office. But Elon Musk never wears a suit.”
To this, Leavitt responded: “He did last night.”
Doocy then retorted with another question, asking ‘what is the dress code?’ and quizzing her on whether Musk is ‘spooked about Zelenskyy getting kicked out’ of the Oval Office.
“No, I don’t think so,” replied Leavitt.
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She added: “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.”
In the end, Trump paused all US aid to Ukraine following their White House bust-up.
According to Fox News, this includes weapons in Poland or in transit until Zelenskyy demonstrates a commitment to peace.
"President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace," a White House official told Fox News.
"We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution."
"This is not permanent termination of aid, it's a pause," said another official. "The orders are going out right now."
The US is overwhelmingly the biggest donor of aid to Ukraine, and - according to the Kiel Institute - has given $69 billion (£54.6 billion) in military aid to the country between the start of 2022 and the end of 2024.
In response to the developments, Zelenskyy issued a statement on Twitter.
He wrote: "I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace.
"None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.
"We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same. Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal."