'Why Don't You Wear a Suit?': A Right-Wing News Outlet With Coveted Access Questions Zelensky

[mahatmakanejeeves]

‘Why Don’t You Wear a Suit?’: A Right-Wing News Outlet With Coveted Access Questions Zelensky
After the White House began to handpick pool reporters, Brian Glenn of the conservative Real America’s Voice network got to be front and center for the Ukrainian president’s visit.


Brian Glenn at a House subcommittee hearing in Washington in February. Al Drago/Getty Images

By Zach Montague
Reporting from West Palm Beach, Fla.
Published March 1, 2025
Updated March 2, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET

A voice from the press section joined the chorus of people demanding answers from President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Friday, during a meeting with President Trump and his associates. … “Why don’t you wear a suit?” a man asked Mr. Zelensky. “You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Just want to see if — do you own a suit?” He added, “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the office.”

The questions came from Brian Glenn, a correspondent for Real America’s Voice, a right-wing cable channel that has spread conspiracy theories about noncitizen voting and helped distribute Stephen K. Bannon’s “War Room” podcast after Mr. Bannon was barred from YouTube, Spotify and other mainstream platforms.

Mr. Glenn’s outlet was selected to take a “secondary TV” role in the White House press pool alongside CNN on Friday — a position that did not exist before this week. That access was granted as the White House continued to block reporters from The Associated Press from attending, according to a schedule sent out by the White House, and as it began this week to handpick the pool reporters who cover the president in small settings, such as the Oval Office meeting with Mr. Zelensky.

{snip}

Responding to the backlash, Mr. Glenn posted a lengthy personal statement on Saturday morning expressing “extreme empathy for the people of Ukraine” but continuing to berate Mr. Zelensky. … He suggested in the post that the olive-green military fatigues that Mr. Zelensky often wears in meetings with other world leaders signaled respect, but that the black tactical sweater bearing his country’s coat of arms did not. … “For him, once again, to enter the highest office in the most powerful nation in the world, dressed as he did, reflects his inner disrespect for not only our country, the President and the US citizens that have made it possible for Ukraine to survive as long as they have to this point,” Mr. Glenn wrote.

{snip}

Zach Montague is a Times reporter covering the U.S. Department of Education, the White House and federal courts. More about Zach Montague

[True Blue American]

1. Not very bright,is he?

Everyone knows Zelensky chooses to not wear a suit to support his trioops.
Besides, that Reporter looks like a fool with those loud socks and casual shoes he has on.
I would not be judging other people taste.
Did he ask Musk why he wore a t shirt and ball cap in the Oval Office and to acabinet meeting? P Poor judgement of anyone’s taste.

[underpants]

2. Twitter clip. Zelensky's answer tearing this idiot apart.

Link to tweet

?s=46&t=3VBm1LJ8j8qLp6JTs_8J2A

[surfered]

3. But you didn't ask him why he didn't wear a suit...

[Dulcinea]

6. Because Eloon Muskovite is the real boss.

Everyone knows that. Even the Fascist Felon and especially Hillbilly Vanilli.

[tanyev]

4. Let's drop Brian in a Ukraine battle zone and see how long his suit and spiffy socks stay tidy.

[Paladin]

5. Why don't you ask the same question of Elon Musk, Brian Glenn?

Fucking rightwing moron.

[Dulcinea]

7. Zelensky to Brian Glenn:

іди до біса, prono "idy do bisa"

According to Google Translate, it's Ukrainian for "Go fuck yourself."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. White House takes aim at Zelenskyy's 'body language' and fashion choices

What exactly did Volodymyr Zelenskyy do that left officials in the West Wing so offended? They have a list, but it’s awfully pitiful.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-house-takes-aim-zelenskyys-body-language-fashion-choices-rcna194515

As Friday’s fiasco in the Oval Office made painfully clear to the nation and the world, Donald Trump and his White House have a problem with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Indeed, over the last few days, there’s been all kinds of talk emanating from the West Wing about the Ukrainian leader needing to “apologize” to the American president — and perhaps even resigning.

But what is it, specifically, that Zelenskyy did that was wrong?

Zelenskyy apparently made the wrong fashion choices: Before the Ukrainian leader even entered the White House, he was greeted by Trump, who said: “Look, you’re all dressed up today.” Interest in Zelenskyy’s clothing intensified from there, especially among conservative media personalities — though they appeared far less concerned about Elon Musk wearing a baseball cap and a “tech support” T-shirt in the West Wing.

Zelenskyy apparently used “body language” the White House didn’t like: During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said the Ukrainian president was “incredibly disrespectful” while being berated in the Oval Office. To bolster the point, he pointed to “the body language, the shaking of head ... the arms crossed.”

Zelenskyy apparently had criticisms for the authoritarian leader who invaded his country and butchered his people: After the Ukrainian leader said Russia’s Vladimir Putin “hates” Ukraine, Trump chided Zelensky for “speaking badly about somebody else” — because if there’s one thing we know about the Republican president, it’s that he just cannot abide speaking badly about people.

.....Each of these complaints make Trump and his team appear rather weak and easily offended — unless, of course, the White House planned to take offense from the outset, and Republican officials looked for post-hoc rationalizations to justify the positions they were going to take anyway.