'Fabulous': Zelenskyy's outfit to White House meeting wows Trump
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But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was certainly hoping that a spot of fashion diplomacy Monday could get U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to help his country reach a peace deal with Russia.
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Despite the life-and-death matters unfolding in Ukraine, much of the speculation among the White House press corps was about whether Zelenskyy would wear a suit.
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In February, Ukraine's wartime leader was ridiculed by a right-wing U.S. reporter for wearing military-style garb instead of a business suit when he visited the Oval Office.
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That mocking exchange set the tone for an astonishing blow-up a few minutes later when Trump and Vice President JD Vance proceeded to berate Zelenskyy for not being 'grateful' for US support against Russia's invasion.
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What a difference six months makes.
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'I can't believe it, I love it!' said Trump, 79, as he admired Zelenskyy's smart black jacket and collared black shirt upon the Ukrainian leader's arrival at the White House.
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'It's the best I had,' joked Zelenskyy, a former television comedian before turning president.
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The light-hearted appreciation for the 47-year-old's outfit continued inside the Oval Office itself — the scene of Zelenskyy's earlier humiliation.
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'President Zelenskyy, you look fabulous in that suit!' said Brian Glenn, the reporter for Real America's Voice who had asked the original question back in February.
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Trump joined in, saying 'I said the same thing' — and telling Zelensky that 'that's the one that attacked you last time.'
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'I remember,' deadpanned the Ukrainian, before adding to the American reporter that 'you are wearing the same suit' as six months ago.
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Zelensky also turned on the charm for Trump — a billionaire who is rarely seen in anything except one of his trademark tailored blue suits — in other ways.
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He brought a letter for Melania Trump from his wife Olena thanking the US first lady for writing to Putin and urging him to save children's lives.
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The focus on Zelensky's outfit — instead of the nitty-gritty of peace negotiations to end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people — may seem bizarre to some.
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But it also underscores the extent to which foreign leaders have had to woo a notoriously capricious US president.
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