Musk and Zelensky's "Double Standards"... Reignited US White House Dress Code Controversy

Does CEO Musk Wear a Suit at the White House?
Fox News Questions White House Spokesperson About Dress Code
Spokesperson Levitt Says, "He Wore One Last Night"

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is standing next to U.S. President Donald Trump during a press conference in the White House Oval Office on the 11th of last month (local time). He wore a black MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat and defended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for about 30 minutes. His son, X Ash A Twelve, also accompanied him at the event. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

On the 5th, about a week after the controversy over President Volodymyr Zelensky's attire at the US-Ukraine summit on the 28th of last month (local time), inconsistent 'dress codes' became a hot topic at a White House press conference. Criticism arose that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, does not wear a suit at the White House, yet a 'double standard' is being applied only to President Zelensky.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt responded to Fox News reporter Peter Doocy's question about why Musk does not wear a suit at the White House by saying, "Musk wore a suit last night." Levitt also replied to a question asking if Zelensky wore a suit because he saw Musk being kicked out of the White House, saying, "I don't think so."

Musk, who leads the Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), a key position in the second Trump administration, is known as Trump's 'first buddy.' US Newsweek reported that Musk often wears his trademark 'dark MAGA (Make America Great Again)' style casual attire when visiting the White House.

The attention on President Zelensky's outfit began at last month's summit. Donald Trump, the US president, wearing his trademark navy suit and red tie, mentioned Zelensky's attire first by saying, "You are very well dressed" when welcoming him. During the meeting, a reporter from the conservative US media outlet Real America's Voice sarcastically asked Zelensky why he was not wearing a suit, adding, "Do you even have a suit?" Zelensky responded with a displeased expression, saying, "I will wear a suit when the war is over."

Musk posted a video of Trump welcoming Zelensky on his social media account X (formerly Twitter), along with Trump's phrase "very well dressed" and a smiling emoji. This sparked heated debate on social media.

The Ukrainian local media Kyiv Independent criticized the notion that President Zelensky should wear a suit. Kyiv Independent pointed out, "It was no coincidence that such an inappropriate and very rude question was asked," noting that "Brian Glenn is known as one of the reporters favored by Trump and his supporters."

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, President Zelensky has maintained a military-style outfit: a black sweatshirt with the Ukrainian trident emblem. Newsweek explained Zelensky's attire by stating, "He has carried out diplomatic duties dressed in a way that symbolizes solidarity with the military."