Trump's shameful attitude towards Zelensky: rudeness to the victim and praise to the aggressor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House today, and something truly embarrassing happened.

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At one point during the meeting, one of the most tense situations ever seen in the Oval Office occurred:

Full segment of a heated conversation between Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office. pic.twitter.com/vpjhSsR1O1

— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) February 28, 2025

Trump has accused Zelensky of "playing with World War III", he has been told that he has no men, he has been accused of wanting to continue the war (himself, the president of the attacked country), and he has been given an ultimatum: "You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out." In other words, either he gives in to Putin or the US will stop supporting Ukraine. This is not a peace agreement: it is blackmail to make the attacked surrender and for Putin to benefit from invading Ukraine.

Never before has a US president treated another head of state in such a rude and arrogant manner during a public visit to the White House, in front of the media. What happened today is an absolute shame and is an exhibition of the attitude of a bully, and not of the brilliant negotiator that some say they see in Trump.

Recall that two weeks ago, Trump said that Putin "wants peace", while the Russian dictator continued to launch attacks against Ukraine. What Trump is doing with his handling of this war is already very clear: pressuring and attacking the invaded - blaming them for the invasion, calling Zelensky a "dictator" and voting with Russia at the UN against condemning the invasion, while praising the invader. In other words: an absolute shame.

Trump is not acting as a US president should, but as an ambassador for Russia. His rude attitude towards Zelensky, his contempt for Ukraine and his alignment with the Kremlin make it clear what the current tenant of the White House is planning: he is opening the door for other bullies like Xi Jinping or Kim Jong-un to attack their neighbors. I never imagined that I would see a US president stoop so low in international politics.

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Photo: Andrew Harnik.