On Feb. 28, U.S. President Donald Trump met with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss strategies for dealing with the Russo-Ukrainian War that has ravaged the streets of Ukraine since the Russian invasion over three years ago. What ensued can’t simply be described as a failed negotiation — the meeting put the embarrassing ineptitude of the Trump administration on display for the whole world to see.
The meeting came just over a week after Trump referred to Zelenskyy as a “dictator” in a heated exchange, a moment that makes me wonder whether Trump is flat-out lying or if he’s actually stupid enough to believe that to be true.
Like any democratic country, Ukraine holds governmental elections to determine their leader. When Trump said that Zelenskyy “refuses to have elections,” it’s likely he was referring to the fact that Ukraine’s spring 2024 election process was cancelled because Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s 2022 invasion. It’s important to point out that delaying elections in wartime is completely ordinary and has occurred in several countries across the globe over the last century.
Regardless, when the meeting between the two leaders began in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, Trump clearly wasn’t entering the conversation with an open mind. Before Zelenskyy even stepped foot into the building, Trump mocked the Ukrainian leader for not wearing a suit, joking with reporters that “he’s all dressed up today.”
For the record, Zelenskyy’s attire — a black sweatshirt displaying the Ukrainian trident — isn’t the figurative middle-finger to the U.S. that Trump and his cronies are making it out to be. Zelenskyy has said he chooses clothing in solidarity with his soldiers fighting on the front lines.
But Trump, a known draft dodger, wouldn’t understand what it’s like to stand courageously in support of his country. He’s out for himself and his massive ego, something we continued to see as he sat down with Zelenskyy for conversation.
The mockery and bullying of Zelenskyy throughout the 49-minute conversation are certainly difficult to watch. Trump made several mentions of his efforts speaking to the Russian leader and actual dictator Vladimir Putin, as if he was going to suddenly keep his word on the battlefield after committing a series of heinous war crimes that have caused the International Criminal Court to put out a warrant for his arrest.
Despite all of this, Trump seemed bewildered by Zelenskyy’s “tremendous hatred” for Putin, saying it’s hard to “make a deal with that kind of hate.” He also made sure to mention that “the other side isn’t exactly in love with [Zelenskyy] either.”
Zelenskyy, of course, has every reason to hate Putin. The Russian war criminal is responsible for the widespread destruction of Ukraine, causing the deaths of 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers, forcing millions of Ukrainians to seek refuge, and bombing children’s and maternity hospitals, to name a few examples. There shouldn’t be any reason to question Zelenskyy’s hatred or play “devil’s advocate” in this situation.
This causes even more reason to believe that Trump has somehow aligned himself with Putin. He seems to see Putin as a brother-in-arms, having said that the Russian leader “went through a hell of a lot with me,” hinting at a sense of solidarity with the dictator. This, of course, would make Zelenskyy a common enemy.
After half an hour of Trump taking questions from the press, the conversation erupted into angry disagreements between the leaders, particularly from Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Vance launched into a confusing and somewhat childish tirade about how it’s “disrespectful” for Zelenskyy to discuss these issues in front of the American media and telling the Ukrainian leader that he “should be thanking” Trump for trying to help achieve a ceasefire. He then accused Zelenskyy of bringing people on a “propaganda tour,” as Trump smugly sat there enjoying every moment.
First off: despite Vance’s claims of disrespect, Zelenskyy has repeatedly thanked Americans and U.S. leaders since the start of the Russian invasion — at least 33 times, in fact. Vance’s rage seems not to be borne of Zelenskyy’s insufficient gratitude; it’s more likely he’s upset with the fact that Zelenskyy doesn’t immediately agree with Trump on everything he says.
Second, this point created a massive distraction in the conversation, bringing the leaders away from peace talks and toward debating whether Zelenskyy was thankful enough for Trump’s goal of helping end the conflict in Ukraine.
For a moment, it became unclear whether this was a high-level government meeting or a group of kindergarteners trying to accuse each other of not using their manners. It was confusing and strange, but also emblematic of the short-sighted and impulsive decision-making process often used by the Trump administration.
Zelenskyy attempted to respond by warning the American leaders that succumbing to Putin would eventually cause them problems of their own: “Even you [will have problems], but you have [a] nice ocean [separating you from Russia] and don’t feel [it] now. But you will feel it in the future.”
This genuine, valuable warning seemed to only frustrate Trump further, presumably because it insinuates that his new buddy Vladimir Putin might go back on his word.
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” said Trump. “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel, because you’re in no position to dictate that. You’re in no position to dictate how we’re gonna feel. We’re gonna feel very good. We’re gonna feel very good and very strong. You’re right now not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position, and [Vance] happens to be right about it.”
As Zelenskyy tried to interject and re-iterate his point, the U.S. President continued rambling, reminding Zelenskyy that he’s powerless without the support of the U.S. government.
The display from Trump was not only deeply sad –– it was embarrassing.
This is the leader of a global superpower failing to understand a warning about why you shouldn’t align yourself with a dictator and war criminal, and getting defensive about how untouchable he is. It’s the kind of showing that you can only imagine other democratic world leaders cringing at while Putin enjoys every second.
In typical far-right fashion, reporter Brian Glenn gleefully continued the mockery of Zelenskyy’s attire by berating the Ukrainian leader in front of Trump and Vance.
“Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Just want to see — do you own a suit? A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting this office.”
During the one-sided exchange, Vance could be seen with a visible smile on his face as he soaked in the verbal attack on the Ukrainian leader. The utter unprofessionalism and disrespect shown by Glenn and Vance are unbefitting of a high-level meeting between world leaders, and Trump allowing it to continue proved that he’s no better.
We’re in a difficult moment right now. The future is more uncertain than ever as the U.S. government is overtaken by short-sighted individuals only out for themselves and “great television.” Four more years of this is going to be frustrating, scary and sad.
And now you can add another word to that list: turns out it’s also going to be deeply embarrassing.