The American financier and former Senate candidate came under fire for asking why Volodymyr Zelensky wasn’t wearing a suit, then doubled down by accusing the troubled Ukrainian president of wearing makeup.
Peter Schiff, 58, who ran as a Republican for U.S. Senator from Connecticut twelve years ago, made the announcement shortly after Zelenskiy appeared before the U.S. Senate in his signature green khaki T-shirt.
Schiff, who is the CEO of bank Euro Pacific Capital, tweeted: “I understand times are tough, but doesn’t #Ukraine’s president have a suit?
“I don’t have much respect for the current members of the US Congress, but I still wouldn’t address them in a T-shirt. I would not want to disrespect this institution or the United States.”
One tweeter calling himself Quoth the Raven responded to Schiff by saying that he had just done “one of your worst takes of all time”. Kvoth continued, “The guy is in the middle of a war zone dodging mortars, Peter, he’s not going to roll around on a clothes rack with him.”
But Schiff was adamant and again replied, “He didn’t fight on the battlefield. Someone powdered his face. Not a single hair was superfluous, and he was clean-shaven with a trimmed beard. He decided to wear this T-shirt. He could have easily chosen something less informal.”
Peter Schiff, the 58-year-old chief economist and chief executive officer of Euro Pacific Capital, commented on Volodymyr Zelensky’s outfit on Twitter on Wednesday, asking if the President of #Ukraine has a suit?
The financier added that while he “doesn’t have much respect for the current members of UI.S. Congress too,” he “still wouldn’t address them in a T-shirt,” implying that it would be “disrespectful” to the institution of the United States.
Active Twitter users, as well as many political commentators, criticized Schiff’s tweets and defended Zelenskiy’s outfit.
In response to the negative criticism he received, Schiff added that Zelenskiy was powdered and that “not a single hair was out of place and he was clean-shaven with a trimmed bear.” He decided to wear this T-shirt. He could have easily opted for something less informal.”
Many other tweeters chose to criticize Chiff for his remarks, hundreds of which used much less polite language.
“Oh my God, Peter, you are a complete jerk,” John Cooper, former chairman of the National Finance Committee, wrote in Biden’s 2016 draft. “I can’t believe you haven’t deleted this tweet yet.”
“Man, not only is he in a war zone where I’m sure it’s hard to iron a suit and dry clean it, but even if it were possible, it would be beneficial for people to see him as one of those who share the fight.” ”, added a Twitter user named Jonathan.
Schiff later doubled down on his tweet, replying to Jonathan, “He wouldn’t have had to push for a lawsuit. I’m sure his clean suit hung in the same closet as his T-shirts. Plus, even if there were no suits, maybe a shirt with long sleeves and a collar.”
Amy Task, an analyst for CBS Sports, was among those who denounced Schiff, saying that Zelenskiy “is fighting to save the lives of others, he is risking his life to do it – he could have left, but he didn’t.” that speaks to the man that he is – you care what he wears, that speaks to the man that you are.
Earlier today, Mr. Zelenskiy pleaded with the US for more help from his office in Kyiv, wearing the green army T-shirt that became his typical wartime attire after Russia’s attempt to invade Ukraine late last month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky actually addressed the U.S. Congress from his office in Kyiv wearing the green army T-shirt he usually wears every day since the start of the Russian invasion of his country almost a month ago.
The 58-year-old man, nicknamed “Doctor Doom” after correctly predicting the financial crash of 2007-2008, was under investigation in 2020 after Euro Pacific Bank, a small financial firm in Puerto Rico that “helps Americans prepare for changes in the global economy that could undermine the value of the dollar and dollar investments,” was suspected of money laundering and tax evasion.
Schiff denied wrongdoing and no charges were filed against him.
He was also active in politics, competing with Democrat Christopher Dodd, the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1991–2011). However, he failed to garner the most delegate votes in the state’s Republican primaries, trailing only Linda McMahon and Rob Simmons. The race was ultimately won by Democratic primary winner Richard Blumenthal.
Schiff’s father, Irwin, was a twentieth-century libertarian and tax resistance advocate, author of several literary works advancing the case that the US income tax is illegal and unconstitutional. He faced several civil and criminal cases against the federal government and died while serving a 162 month (13.5 year) prison sentence for willfully presenting false tax information.
John Lowe, arts and culture columnist for the Niagara Falls Review, tweeted a humorous response to Schiff, sharing, “It’s only March yet you sir just posted the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen on Twitter all year” .
In response to the attention, Schiff wrote that someone had powdered Mr. Zelensky’s face and that “not a single hair was missing and he was clean-shaven with a trimmed beard.” He decided to wear this T-shirt. He could have easily chosen something less informal.”
Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky addressed Americans via Zoom, asking them to remember the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Twin Towers and compare them to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where hundreds of civilians and military personnel have died at the hands of Russian forces. almost in the last month.
“Our country is now experiencing the same thing every day — at this moment, every night, for three weeks now,” Zelensky said. “Russia has turned the Ukrainian skies into a source of death for thousands of people.”
He even quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an attempt to persuade members of Congress to support a NATO-backed no-fly zone over his country, sharing, “I have a dream. These words are known to each of you today. I can say that I have a need – I need to protect our sky.
A heartbreaking video was also shown showing Ukrainians suffering the consequences of the war.
Zelenskiy spoke most of the speech in Ukrainian, and Mr Zelenskiy’s last words were in English, urging pro-democracy countries to unite in support of his country.
“Today the Ukrainian people are defending not only Ukraine. We are fighting for the values of Europe and the world, sacrificing our lives for the sake of the future,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (on screen) delivers a video message to U.S. senators and members of Congress gathered in the Congressional Auditorium of the Capitol Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.