By Illinois Review
On Friday, after an unprecedented and heated exchange, President Donald Trump kicked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy out of The White House, saying he “disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.”
In a post on his Truth Social account just minutes after the meeting, the President wrote,
“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. 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. 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.”
The Ukrainian leader appeared combative and ungrateful, even shaking his head and rolling his eyes during discussions in the Oval Office with President Trump and Vice President Vance.
“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?,” Vance asked Zelenskyy.
“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!,” the President told Zelenskyy.
The President continued,
“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning … You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us…You haven’t been alone. We gave you, through [our] stupid president, $350 billion. We gave you military equipment … If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would’ve been over in two weeks.”
Zelenskyy was then spotted getting into the back of an SUV while his delegation quickly walked to their vehicles after being kicked out of the West Wing of The White House.
President Trump has been working on a deal that would bring peace and stability to the region, and ending the war with Russia – but the Ukrainian president appeared ungrateful for U.S. support and funding – triggering a heated exchange with President Trump and Vice President Vance. The two leaders were also expected to sign a rare minerals deal today, but that now appears to be on hold.
After departing The White House, Zelenskyy – who appears to understand that he messed up, issued a statement thanking the U.S.
“Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”
This evening, President Trump heads to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida residence, while Zelenskyy is scheduled to depart the U.S. later in the afternoon.
