Candace Owens Pushes Unfounded Claim About Zelensky's Wife: 'Despicable'

Twitter has called out controversial Republican commentator Candace Owens for making claims about a Paris shopping spree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's wife.

Zelensky has been in the United States meeting with President Joe Biden, which prompted nationwide discussion of Russia's war in Ukraine. Zelensky also addressed congress during his visit, telling politicians U.S. aid is "investment."

Most Republicans (excluding Lindsey Graham) were angered by Zelensky's requests and his meeting with Biden, with Donald Trump Jr. calling him "an ungrateful international welfare queen."

"On my way to the U.S. to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of [Ukraine]," Zelensky wrote on Wednesday morning as he headed for America. "In particular, POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between [Ukraine] and [USA]."

Owens shared her fury at the arrival by retweeting him and sending a stern message back to Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska.

"We want nothing to do with you," Owens wrote late on Wednesday, "Stop stealing from our people while your wife drops tens of thousands of dollars shopping in Paris. Despicable."

Owens' reference to the First Lady of Ukraine's Paris shopping trip was called out as misleading information by Twitter. It included a Newsweek fact check article after "readers added context they thought people might want to know."

"There is no evidence that Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska went on a shopping spree during her diplomatic trip to Paris," Twitter wrote before including a link to Newsweek's article.

The fact check addressed the purported shopping trip and explained: "Claims that the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska went on a shopping spree during her visit to Paris this month are not supported by credible evidence.

"They appear to stem from a single tweet posted by an unverified and low-engagement Twitter account, which provided scant details about the alleged purchases, simply citing an anonymous 'source.'" In this case, the claims were first made by French account De Fabron Olivier.

Owens' anger at Zelensky didn't dissipate as footage of him at the White House was shared throughout the day. "I just want to punch him," she simply stated, responding to a video of him with President Biden in the Oval Office.

Owens' followers echoed her sentiments and shared their own disbelief at the situation.

"I'm fed up with us being involved at all. We have our own issues," wrote @UFJohn while @BobFrancis22 said, "Welcome to the United States of Ukraine!"

Owens did get some pushback in the comment section from other Twitter users.

"Get a life and leave the man to fight for his country with anything within his reach," @Area_Jay wrote, while @mdl8210 added: "Why does Candace Owens always stand with the wrong side? I know she loves it."