Washington
CNN
–
A surprising cries match broke out in the oval office on Friday as President Donald Trump bets Ukrainian counterpart Voldy Zelensky.
The American president never verbally attacked visitors. At one point, Trump threatened to give up Ukraine completely.
He accused Zelensky of not showing sufficient appreciation for America’s support, Trump and Vice President JD Vance raised their voices and accused the besieged leader of being in the way of a peace deal with Russia. He was then essentially kicked out of the White House and set off with a stern expression on his face.
“You’re not in a really good position right now. Trump told the Ukrainian president. “You don’t have a card now. With us, you start holding the card.”
“I’m not a card,” Zelensky said.
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Trump spoke up after more interactions and said, “You’re gambling with millions of people. You’re gambling with World War II.”
At one point, Vance accused Zelensky of “disrespectful” towards his American host.
“You’re not that grateful,” Trump added.
“Did you say “thank you” once? ” Vance asked Zelensky.
Trump then hangs out with key advisers within his oval office, including Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent, to assess the situation.
That was when Trump finally decided that Zelensky was “not in a place to negotiate.” He instructed Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz to convey his message. That was when Zelensky left.
The Ukrainians had a nearby room. This is standard when foreign leaders visit the White House. Usually they go to another room and then reunite for lunch.
However, Ukrainians were not eating at the White House on Friday. The plates of spring green salad, rosemary roast chicken and creme brulee were not touched by Ukrainian guests.
The prepared food was sitting near a cart in the hallway outside the press secretary’s office, so the Ukrainians were instructed to leave.
White House officials said Ukrainians would like to continue their discussions in protest. But they were told no.
Zelensky left shortly afterwards. He canceled an afternoon speech at the Hudson Institute, a think tank official.
The scheduled joint press conference was abolished, and Zelensky left the White House in his black SUV without signing a planned agreement to provide access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Trump posted online that his counterpart was not welcome until he was “prepared for peace.”
The Trump administration moved quickly on Friday, attempting to turn the diplomatic turmoil into a sign of strength, sending allies like South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham to cameras outside the West Wing and calling for Zelensky to apologise. The White House issued a statement saying, “President Trump and Vance are standing up for the Americans.”
Now Zelensky makes Washington doubt the fate of his country and his own future as its leader.
Prior to his arrival, Trump had already expressed open hostility towards Zelensky. He called him a dictator. However, he appeared to ease his tone a day ago, and refused to repeat his criticism.
But the tense ten-minute exchange in the oval office was well beyond any normal diplomatic rift, allowing the bay between men to play publicly in front of television cameras. It was as angry as Trump had ever allowed himself to see himself publicly.
“You either make a deal or we’re out,” the US President added, “The following: I don’t think it’ll be beautiful. ”
Sitting quietly at an oval office meeting during the opening week of the Vice President, Vance caused tensions with visiting Ukrainian leaders. Before joining Trump on tickets last year, the freshman Ohio Senator was one of the biggest GOP critics of support for Ukraine.
Friday’s fiery exchange served as a standout example of the dramatic whiplash in American foreign policy since Trump and Vance took office last month. Tensions escalated dramatically during the session that began with a series of pleasures as Trump waxed voices about his legacy.
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“I hope I will be remembered as a peacemaker,” Trump said he is watching the prospect of finalizing a broader peace deal with Russia and Ukraine.
However, the denunciation that exploded on Full View raised questions about the prospect of reaching a peaceful solution and raising new alarms across Europe. There, leaders have worked weeks to warn Trump’s past actions and potential future intentions with Ukraine.
Again and again, Trump sided with Putin. However, as voices rose in the oval office, Trump unleashed years of frustration with Russia and Ukraine, leading to his first blast each.
“Tell me, Putin went through a lot of hell with me,” Trump said. “He went through a false witch hunt, where he used Russia, Russia and Russia.”
After the meeting, Trump said in a true social post that Zelensky could return to the White House “when peace is ready.”
“We held a very meaningful meeting at the White House today, and we learned a lot that we never understood without conversation under such fire and pressure,” he said.
“It’s amazing that it comes out through emotions. President Zelensky decided that he is not ready for peace because he feels that our involvement gives him a great advantage in negotiations when America is involved. I don’t want any advantage, I want peace. He downplayed the United States of America in his precious oval office. He can come back when he is ready for peace.”
For diplomacy, it was the devastating end of a week that began with a hopeful note at the White House. There they visited in hopes that French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kiel Starme would pave the way for a security agreement with Ukraine.
Trump’s meetings with European leaders were filled with comfort to prepare him for a one-on-one session with Zelensky.
“I empowered you to be a tough guy,” Trump told Ukrainian leaders. “I don’t think you’ll be a tough guy without the US.”
Speaking to reporters after his TV appearance at the White House, Graham said Zelensky “will need to resign and send someone whether we can do business or if he needs to change.”
“What we saw in the oval office was rude and I don’t know if we’ll be able to do business with Zelensky again. I think most Americans saw people who didn’t want to get into business. The way he took charge of the meeting, the way he stood up to the president was right up there,” Graham said.
Graham said he spoke to Zelensky on Friday morning.
“Don’t take any food,” Graham said. “President Trump felt very good last night.”
But Democrats held Trump and Vance accountable.
Sen. Jack Reid, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the meeting in a statement “a political ambush and the shameful failure of American leaders.” A Rhode Island Democrat said on the day, “The cruel and ruthless displays will do great harm to us standing in the world. Trump and Vance are telling the world that the United States is not trusted. Both our enemies and our allies are warned.”
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.
