Vance defends Hegseth amid viral tie color controversy

After photos from the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting were published, Russian media reacted strongly to Hegseth's tie. They claimed it showed the "Russian tricolor flag tie," even though white, red, and blue are also on the US flag.

The controversy intensified after Putin's Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev posted a photo of Hegseth on social media with a Russian flag emoji. The combination of posts sparked a viral online debate, which drew Vance’s attention.

"Or maybe he was wearing the colors of America," the US Vice President wrote, attaching a post from American YouTuber and former US Army officer Jake Broe, who was among the first to notice the tie's color.

Screenshot: Vance defends Hegseth's tie colors

However, Vance's statement did not convince many Americans. In the comments, users pointed out that a tie in American colors should include stars. They also noted that the order of colors more closely resembled the Russian flag.

Users even found a tie for sale in the US resembling the one Hegseth wore. The product description indicated it was "Russian Plain Flag Tie."

Screenshots: Americans question Hegseth's tie colors

Zelenskyy's visit to the US

On Friday, October 17, Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. The meeting included a public press briefing and a closed lunch.

Afterward, Trump said he would work with Ukraine to try to persuade Putin to end the war. However, he added that Ukraine would not receive Tomahawk missiles, which Zelenskyy had hoped to obtain.

Following the meeting, Trump also posted on Truth Social, emphasizing the importance of ending the war in Ukraine through a mutual declaration of victory. His comments drew significant criticism in both Ukraine and Europe.