Numerous politicians reacted to President Donald Trump’s fiery meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday — with most Republicans backing Trump’s harsh words for Zelensky while Democrats roundly criticized Trump.
Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance called out Zelensky in the Oval Office on national television, accusing the Ukrainian president of attacking the Trump administration and taking American military support for granted. The meeting turned into a back-and-forth between Zelensky and Trump with Trump telling the Ukrainian leader, “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.”
Trump then canceled a joint press conference with Zelensky and asked him to leave the White House following the Oval Office meeting, a White House official told Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan. Zelensky left the White House without signing a mineral deal between the two countries.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump said in a statement after the meeting. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Republican lawmakers, including those who have pushed to support Ukraine, praised Trump for how he handled the meeting.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote on X, “Thanks to President Trump – the days of America being taken advantage of and disrespected are OVER. The death and destruction of the Russian-provoked war needs to stop immediately, and only our American President can put these two countries on a path to lasting peace. President Zelenskyy needed to acknowledge that, and accept the extraordinary mineral rights partnership proposal that President Trump put on the table. What we witnessed in the Oval Office today was an American President putting America first.”
“President Trump is fighting for PEACE around the world and is putting America First as our best negotiator — he’s the only one to get Russia to the table to consider a serious and lasting peace agreement with Ukraine,” said House Republican Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a staunch supporter of Ukraine, said he’s “never been more proud” of Trump “for standing up for America First.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) added, “Under this President— the greatest, freest, and most generous nation on Earth is putting America First. I’d encourage anyone who has a problem with that to reevaluate their priorities.”
Not all Republicans were happy with Trump’s treatment of Zelensky, however. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said the meeting marked a “bad day for America’s foreign policy.”
“Ukraine wants independence, free markets and rule of law,” he added. “It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said, “Sadly, the only winner of today is Vladimir Putin.”
“As someone who fundamentally believes that Russia, China and Iran are not our friends or allies and continues to believe it is important to support Ukraine, it was extremely short-sighted to engage in that type of exchange in front of the US and international press as you work towards an agreement,” he wrote.
Democrats roundly condemned Trump and Vance with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accusing them of “doing Putin’s dirty work.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) called the meeting “a planned ambush designed to embarrass President Zelenskyy in order to benefit Vladimir Putin.”
“Trump has become Putin’s lapdog, and America’s global power is hemorrhaging as America sides with dictators over democracy,” Murphy added. “What an embarrassment.”
