Elon Musk's wardrobe shift: A diplomatic nod to Zelensky
On Tuesday evening, Elon Musk ditched his signature outfit for a shirt and suit. Foreign media see this as an allusion to Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House. At the same time, they point out that during previous meetings with Donald Trump, Musk wore a T-shirt and jeans, which could be interpreted as a "declaration of strength."
Elon Musk swapped his T-shirt and jeans for a suit during Donald Trump's Tuesday speech at Congress.
According to the media, this was a subtle nod to Volodymyr Zelensky, who was criticised for showing a lack of respect for the Trump administration when he wore a black sweatshirt and military trousers during a meeting at the White House. (Zelensky has been wearing such military clothing since 24 February 2024 as a symbol that his country is still at war, caused by Russian aggression—editor's note.)
The Daily Mail notes that despite the elegant attire, Musk still broke protocol.
Security reprimanded the billionaire during Donald Trump's speech for using a mobile phone, which is prohibited in the gallery during the joint session of Congress. Musk was seen sitting on the steps in front of the House of Representatives after the incident but returned to the chamber to hear Trump praise his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk's attire at the White House
Elon Musk has appeared multiple times at the White House or with Donald Trump dressed less formally.
In mid-February, the billionaire appeared in the Oval Office at the White House alongside Donald Trump to defend the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He was wearing a T-shirt at the time.
He presented himself similarly during Donald Trump's first cabinet meeting. At the time, he proudly displayed a T-shirt with the words "Tech support."
The Evening Standard assessed that Elon Musk's casual attire could be seen as a "declaration of strength."
