Trump’s Oval Office meeting with Zelensky went off the rails after about 40 minutes when the Ukrainian president said he had signed deals with Putin, but the Russian leader could not be trusted.
He was pushing back after Trump and Vance insisted that he must compromise with Putin after three years of resisting the Russian invasion.
The result was an extraordinary row as carefully laid diplomacy came undone. Trump raised his voice and VP Vance chimed in to question why Zelensky had not once said thank you in the Oval Office.
Trump shouted that Zelensky was gambling with millions of lives.
You’re gambling with World War Three. You’re gambling with World War Three, 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.
Vance chimed in by demanding that the Ukrainian president show some appreciation for Washington’s support. And he pointed out how Zelensky had toured a weapons facility in Pennsylvania, much to the anger of Republicans just before the election last year.
Have you said thank you, once, in this entire meeting? You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.
