“Why Don’t You Wear a Suit?” Americans Clash Over Zelensky’s Military Fatigues

During a campaign event in South Carolina on February 24, 2024, President Donald Trump mocked Volodymyr Zelensky’s clothing, saying: “Every time he comes to our country, he’s dressed like a schlub.” (A “schlub” is a Yiddish slang term for a sloppy, poorly-dressed person.)

The first time Trump welcomed Zelensky to the White House, he commented immediately on his appearance, saying, “You look all dressed up today,” before repeating it for the small crowd around them — as if Zelensky showing up in anything smarter than battlefield gear was worthy of an announcement. That moment set the tone for what became a pattern of ridicule and condescension — which Zelensky, to his credit, stood up to with quiet defiance.

Zelensky had been advised to wear a suit for the White House visit. That he chose not to — sticking to his now-familiar olive drab — may have been an early signal that the meeting would be tense. During the press conference that followed, Brian Glenn, a reporter from the right-wing outlet Real America’s Voice, asked Zelensky directly if he even owned a suit — implying that his casual military look was disrespectful. Zelensky’s reply was simple: he would “wear costume” after the war ends. In Ukrainian, the word for suit translates to “costume.”

Why do Zelensky’s clothes trigger such strong reactions? Because clothes have always been political. Churchill had his siren suit. Fidel Castro lived in fatigues. Yasser Arafat’s keffiyeh became part of his identity. For Zelensky, the military gear is a visual shorthand: Ukraine is at war, and no diplomatic niceties can obscure that fact.

Which is why Trump’s swipe wasn’t just about fashion — it was a demand to return to the old playbook, where war and diplomacy occupied separate wardrobes.

Americans, never shy about a fashion debate, took sides online.

Clothes make the man — or do they?

Some agreed with Trump, arguing that Zelensky’s fatigues were out of place at the White House. One Instagram commenter sneered, “He’s the president of a country, not a street performer. Put on a suit like everyone else.” Another added, “When you visit the White House, show some respect. This isn’t Comic-Con.”

To these critics, dressing formally isn’t just a tradition — it’s a mark of respect. “This isn’t the trenches,” one user wrote. “It’s a meeting with the most powerful country in the world. Dress like it matters.”

Dressing for the frontlines — and the cameras

Others weren’t buying it. For them, Zelensky’s fatigues are symbolic — a constant visual reminder that his country is fighting for survival. As one commenter put it: “If your people are dying every day, who gives a damn about tailoring?” Another added: “He’s literally fighting a war. Why should he dress like some Wall Street banker?”

Some also pointed out the double standard. “Classic American hypocrisy. We loved it when Bush showed up in a flight suit — but now we’re clutching pearls because Zelensky wears military gear?”

Others argued that the outfit was strategic. “This is PR 101,” one user said. “The fatigues are part of the message: ‘I’m still with my troops — even when I’m here asking for more missiles.’”

Trump vs. Zelensky: a clash of aesthetics

Of course, the fashion spat is part of the longer, messier drama between Trump and Zelensky. Ever since Trump’s first impeachment — triggered by his “perfect phone call” pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden — the former president’s camp has treated Zelensky with open suspicion. To Trump’s loyalists, Zelensky is a grifter — happy to pocket U.S. aid while refusing to show proper gratitude, or even proper attire. “He wants billions but can’t even rent a damn suit?” one MAGA fan complained.

But to Trump’s critics, this was classic pettiness. One exhausted commenter said, “Only Trump could see a man whose country is being bombed to rubble and decide the real problem is his outfit.” Others saw the clothing jab as a deliberate distraction. “Trump doesn’t have a Ukraine policy, so now he’s turning the whole thing into a roast.”

What does “presidential” even look like in 2025?

Beneath all the jokes, there’s a bigger question: what does it mean to look like a leader today? American culture has shifted — business casual is the norm, tech billionaires live in hoodies, and formality itself feels dated.

One Gen Z commenter put it bluntly: “Who cares what he’s wearing? I care what he’s doing.” Another argued: “It’s more honest than showing up in a $5,000 suit while your soldiers are dying in trenches.”

Still, some said optics still matter. “Suits aren’t just clothes,” one commenter wrote. “They’re part of the language of diplomacy. Like it or not, people take you more seriously when you dress the part.” Interestingly, this argument crossed political lines, with some liberals and centrists agreeing. “Zelensky has a powerful story to tell — but the uniform can’t be the whole story.”

Clothes and the struggle — a very old tradition

History shows us that leaders in crisis have always used clothing to send messages. Churchill’s siren suit — essentially a glamorized boiler suit — told the public he was ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice. Yasser Arafat’s keffiyeh became a permanent part of his image, visually tying him to the Palestinian cause and the struggle for statehood. Zelensky’s fatigues work the same way: his personal image fused with his nation’s survival. One commenter summed it up bluntly: “The guy’s at war. You really want him in Armani?”

The double standards around political dress codes didn’t go unnoticed either. Elon Musk has shown up at the White House in a t-shirt and baseball cap — yet Trump never mocked him for dressing like he wandered in from a Tesla factory floor. Nobody ordered Musk out of the room for not wearing a suit. So why does Zelensky’s wardrobe spark outrage while Musk’s tech-bro casual gets a pass?

As some Americans pointed out, it’s not really about the clothes. It’s about who’s wearing them — and what their presence represents in the eyes of their critics.

A debate that’s not really about clothes

Ultimately, the fight over Zelensky’s wardrobe isn’t about fashion. It’s about how Americans feel about Ukraine, foreign aid, and their own political divisions. For Trump’s base, mocking Zelensky’s clothes is code for mocking support for Ukraine — a way to say “we’re done with this war” without having to say it outright.

For Zelensky’s supporters, the fatigues are a badge of honour — proof that he’s still in the fight. And for everyone else, it’s just another reminder that in 2025, American politics is one giant culture war, where even a man’s pants become a battleground.

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