Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a longtime critic of President Trump’s, said he thinks millions of Americans are ashamed of the president “for the first time” over his efforts to strike a deal with Ukraine to gain access to its mineral wealth.
“I think millions and millions and millions of Americans watching this not only disagree with the president, but — maybe for the first time — are just downright ashamed of the president because we have betrayed an ally,” Schiff told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in an interview Wednesday evening.
“We’ve not only betrayed an ally, but we’ve betrayed our principles,” he continued. “Are we to be nothing except transactional now? We have no commitment to democracy, no commitment to our allies. It’s all going to be about the money. That seems to be Donald Trump’s orientation, but what a sad chapter of our history.”
The sharp criticism comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s expected visit to the White House on Friday, when President Trump said they will finalize a long-sought minerals deal between the two countries.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Zelensky said a framework to an economic deal had been reached but that the deal did not include any security guarantees, which Zelensky has said is critical.
The deal would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, which Trump has framed as a way for Ukraine to repay the U.S. for the aid it has already sent during the Biden administration. But Zelensky has said he first needs to know where the U.S. stands on continued military support — a topic he expects to discuss during his visit.
Trump, in announcing the Ukraine meeting, said on Wednesday, “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” adding, “We’re going to have Europe do that.”
Schiff blasted Trump for the comment, during Schiff’s interview Wednesday.
“This is an effort to pressure Zelensky into giving up something for nothing,” Schiff said. “And I have to say, this — on top of the resolution at the United Nations where the United States sided with Russia, betrayed Ukraine — is one of the most shameful incidents in modern history.”
