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Donald Trump appeared to tease Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrived at the White House on Friday, telling him “oh look, you’re all dressed up.”
Zelensky shook hands with the president, dressed in a black sweater – a departure from the military fatigues he is known to often wear.
Turning to members of the press who captured the exchange Trump added “he’s all dressed up today” as the Ukrainian president smiled sheepishly.
A clip of the interaction circulating on social media was seized on by “First Buddy” Elon Musk, who quoted “all dressed up” with a crying laughing emoji.
During the highly anticipated meeting, the two men spoke about the minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, which is expected to be signed this afternoon. “We have something that is a very fair deal,” Trump told reporters.
He added that it is a “big commitment from the United States,” and the U.S. will “take rare earths and use it for all we do including AI and military weapons.”
“This would be a very great agreement if we could get the war stopped,” the president said, adding that he hoped he would be remembered “as a peacemaker.” “I’m doing this to save lives — more than anything else… this could lead to a third world war. This was headed in the wrong direction,” he said.
“It’s a pathway to peace. It’s a pathway to getting something solved. I feel that as the head of this country that I have an obligation to do that… It’s too bad we got involved because there should’ve been no involvement because there should’ve been no war.”
