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Just days after the three year anniversary of, Russia invading Ukraine, the new Trump White House invited Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House for a minerals deal.
It turned into a complete diplomatic disaster. The minerals deal was completely forgotten
After all, if there is one major criticism that has followed Trump around for the past ten years - since well before he was even first elected to the White House - it was his seeming inability to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In recent days, Trump regurgitated Putin's line that Ukraine actually started the war, even though it was Russia's military forces which crossed into the territory of an independent Ukrainian nation.
Now, if there was any doubt left, they are pretty much gone now. Trying to pose as the tough guy which he always wants to convince everyone he is, Trump and Vice-President Vance loudly berated Zelensky. It seemed quite clear that this was a planned ambush, as at one point, as a member of Russia's state media managed to gain access into the Oval Office for the meeting. Also, there was an obviously pointed question which was asked by none other than Real America’s Voice host Brian Glenn, the boyfriend of Republican Representative (Georgia) Marjorie Taylor Greene. Somehow, Glenn was given the spotlight briefly and got to mock Zelensky's uniform, asking why he could not wear a suit for a meeting with the president at the White House.
Apparently, Glenn took exception to Zelensky's choice of dress for the meeting at the White House, clearly insinuating that it was disrespectful. Somehow, Glenn and many other Republicans were not so bothered and remained mute when it came to the same questions that many people have posed regarding Elon Musk's decision to visit the Oval Office as well as attending a White House cabinet meeting while wearing a t-shirt both times.
To his credit, Zelensky shut Glenn up by reminding Glenn of why he was dressed the way that he was dressed, and declared that he would continue to dress that way until the war with Russia is done:
"I will wear [a suit] after this war finishes. Maybe something like yours, maybe something better," Mr. Zelensky retorted.
If Zelensky managed to silence Glenn, the same could not be said of Trump and Vance. The meeting quickly deteriorated into a shouting match, with Trump at one point insinuating that Zelensky, of all people, might be on the verge of starting another world war:
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told Zelensky.
At one point, Vice-President Vance got in on the argument, telling a clearly surprised Zelensky that he should thank Donald Trump. Here, I will borrow from an Irish Star article by Anthony Orrico, where he pretty well summed up the chain of events:
At one point, Zelensky said Putin had broken “his own signature” 25 times on ceasefires and other agreements and could not be trusted. Trump responded that Putin had not broken agreements with him and mostly ducked questions about offering security guarantees to Ukraine, saying he thought the minerals deal — which is now on-hold — would effectively end the fighting.
Vance challenged Zelensky, telling him, “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Zelensky tried to object, prompting Trump to raise his voice and say, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.”
In the end, Zelensky left the White House before any minerals deal could be reached, as well as a scheduled press conference and dinner between the leaders. Apparently, he felt that the relationship with Trump could be repaired.
I'll admit that I'm not sure about that one. Again, one of Trump's most glaring weaknesses for almost a decade now - particularly when it comes to foreign policy - has been his seeming inability to stand up to Putin. He seems simply unable to call Putin out on anything.
Frankly, if this shameful day in American history showed the world anything, it seems like it is that there really is something to that allegation.
My own suspicion is that for most of the rest of the world, this will be regarded as not just another example of Trump's antagonism towards a foreign country, but perhaps as the defining moments when the United States under a President Trump simply could not be trusted to keep promises to friendly nations, particularly NATO members.
Trump wanted to appear tough. So instead of using reason, he raised his voice and tried to shout down the leader of a nation fighting for it's very existence. In the process, of course, he missed yet another opportunity to prove that he actually can stand up to Putin. That might have shown some actual strength. And of course, Trump was not ready for that. So instead, he did the predictable thing, and bullied a weaker political opponent, in this case a foreign head of state. He is trying to strong arm a country perceived as weaker to agree to a deal which would clearly be favorable to Putin's Russia.
It is not like this behavior could not be foreseen. After all, Trump has pretty much been acting in this belligerent manner since he got back into the Oval Office. Just ask Greenland or Panama or Gaza or Mexico or Canada.
Once again, Trump now appears to be appeasing a Russian dictator who has shown signs of being hungry to take over new territory. As always, he's trying to blame everyone else for things that are going wrong. In this case, he is making excuses for the actions of that Russian tyrant, and in effect blaming Ukraine for not simply giving up after being invaded by a foreign power. Not even bothering to invite Ukrainian officials to the peace negotiations with Russia seems like a clear indicator of that fact, as does the absurd charade that we all unfortunately witnessed yesterday.
Not a time to feel proud to be an American, I tell you.
Putin and his allies clearly are overjoyed by this turn of events.
How embarrassing.
Below are the links to the articles which I used in writing this particular blog entry, and from which I obtained the quotes used above:
Zelenskyy leaves White House without signing minerals deal after Oval Office blowup By WILL WEISSERT, ZEKE MILLER and AAMER MADHANI, February 28, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d
Russian state media briefly enters Oval Office during Zelenskyy meeting by Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing 02/28/2025:
The White House did not address how the unapproved reporter was able to gain access to the Oval Office. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the White House.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/28/tass-oval-office-trump-zelenskyy-00206739
Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend humiliated by Zelensky after trying to mock his outfit by Anthony Orrico, FEB 28 2025:
Real America's host Brian Glenn took exception with the fact that Zelensky was not wearing a suit while inside The White House, with the Ukrainian leader firing back saying he'll wear a suit when" this war finishes"
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/marjorie-taylor-greenes-boyfriend-mocks-34774200
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