“THe’s going to be a great TV,” Donald Trump said last. of course. And as they slip into the ice depth, the Titanic captain probably assured the passengers that this one day would make a great movie.
Trump on Friday made his main side one of the biggest diplomatic disasters in modern history. The temper was burning, the voice was nurtured, and the protocol was shredded in the oval offices around once. As Trump cried out Ukrainian Volodymiazelensky, a horrifying Europe saw the second World War order fall apart before his eyes.
The US president has never been bullied and foe against his enemy, but in such public ways he has still denounced few allies. Of course, reality TV stars and wrestling fans were unfolding everything on television, all on television, for his populist support base and certain bare breasted chums in the Kremlin.
Zelensky came to the White House and signed a contract for involvement in the Ukrainian mineral industry, paving the way for the end of the three-year war. The president influenced many people by refusing to flee Kiev when Russia launched an invasion – “I need ammunition, not a ride” – rallied his people together and gave evening speeches to visit his troops on the frontline.
However, Trump is a profile of courage who avoided military service in Vietnam due to suspected bone spurs and hiding in the White House during the January 6, 2021 riots, and reportedly described the soldiers who died in the battle as suckers and losers. He was bounced each in 2019 for trying to strengthen Zelenskyy, and last week called him a dictator.
When Zelensky arrived at the West Wing, wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt rather than a suit, Trump had trouble coming when he greeted him with handshakes and irony.
Zelensky thanked Trump for the invitation in an oval office that he had seen but never saw. At first, when I asked a question from a reporter, it was all sweetness and light.
There was a slight crease about how European support gave Ukraine. It ended with a smile, a playful but Zelensky faucet, and ominous words from Trump. “Don’t argue with me.”
However, the final ten minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting were left to condemnation and mixed chaos. Zelensky finds himself ambushed by Trump and his meandering vice president, J.D. Vance. He was expected to sit down and pound from the nurses Latched and Miss Tranchival. He refused.
Vance oozes the big things, saying Joe Biden’s approach has failed and diplomacy is the path to come. Focusing on the betrayal of trust in the Russian past, Zelensky challenged: “What kind of diplomacy, JD, do you talk? What does it mean?”
Vance, who once declared that he didn’t care what happened in Ukraine, was rilized. Fingerjab, he spoke to Zelensky:
you know. The politicians and journalists in the room could say this was off the rails. At some point, the Ukrainian ambassador will put her head in her hand. She was all of us.
Zelenskyy asked if Vance had been to Ukraine before and tried to push him back. Vance got mad and talked about the “propaganda tour.” Zelensky responded that one day he could feel threatened by Russia and tried to suggest. Trump inserted: “You should not tell us what we are trying to feel.”
The men spoke to each other. Speaking up, the US President said: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have a card right now.”
Zelenskyy replied: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m the president of war.”
Trump pointed his fingers to criticize him, warning him that he would descend from the presidential argument to his worst self. You are gambling with World War III. What you’re doing is very rude to this country that supports you far more than many people say they should have. ”
TV Pro Tip: Trump has warned so many campaign rallies about World War III, and the phrase has lost its shocking value.
Trump and Vance old Zelensky like ungrateful children. Vance – Have you ever recently gone to Munich to accuse Europe of being on the wrong side of the culture wars of saying “thank you” for this whole meeting? no. “
Zelenskyy tried to respond. Trump told him his country is having major problems. He continued: “The problem is that I empowered you to be a tough guy, you’re a tough guy without America and I don’t think your people are very brave. But you either make a deal or we’re going out.
“And if we were out you’d fight it, and I don’t think it would be clean…but you’re not grateful at all, and that’s not a good thing.”
What’s sharper than the snake’s teeth is having an unaffirmed alliance!
Zelenskyy looked shell shocked. The eternal showman, Trump commented on what great television it was, writing on social media that Zelensky “did lightly disparage America in his precious oval office.”
No transactions were made. The planned press conference has been cancelled. Zelenskyy had just endured his own diplomatic Chornobyl and ran off empty-handed. As for the rest of Europe, the bust of Winston Churchill, looming on Trump and Vance’s shoulders, may bring tears to tears.
