Just days after calling him a ‘dictator without elections,’ President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, where the two discussed US efforts to end the war in Ukraine and the related minerals deal — and then got into an argument.
According to Trump, there’s a ‘very fair deal’ on the table, which would allow the US to use Ukraine’s rare earths for AI and military applications. Trump said that once the minerals deal is done, the war will be over, and “Russia won’t want to return.”
REPORTER: "What changed between the first time that Secretary Bessent gave President Zelenskyy the agreement and today for the signing?"
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
POTUS: "We made a deal — I'm a business person. We made a deal. That's what changed." pic.twitter.com/EYf6I1jjFF
President Trump discusses the U.S./Ukraine mineral deal that he'll sign with President Zelenskyy today:
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
"We're going to be taking it and using it for all the things we do including AI, including weapons, and the military… This puts us in good shape." pic.twitter.com/gDiGjldPfp
The meeting got a little testy, however, as Trump slammed Zelensky for ‘gambling with world war three,” saying “You don’t have the cards.”
.@POTUS: "I gave you the Javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets… You got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don't have the cards. With us, you have the cards — but without us you don't have any cards." pic.twitter.com/qbRctLSkA9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
Vice President JD Vance chimed in, asking “Have you said thank you once? You went to Pennsylvania to campaign on the opposition.”
.@VP: "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?"@POTUS: "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You're… pic.twitter.com/iTYyAmfuCJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
NEW: Trump, JD Vance, and Zelensky appear to be having a heated exchange during WH meeting, per pool report by @faithepinho
— Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) February 28, 2025
Trump tells Zelensky he is "gambling with WWIII" and "you're not really in good position right now" pic.twitter.com/OzsLMsCyfX
Zelensky, apparently not a historian, said that Putin ‘began the war’ and ‘has to pay,’ while Trump says he’s “in the middle” regarding the war, adding “I’m for both Ukraine and Russia.” Trump also added that he’s committed to NATO.
.@POTUS: "We're committed to NATO — but NATO has to step up and the Europeans have to step up more than they have." pic.twitter.com/IqPLjynef9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
Trump also commented several times on Zelensky’s attire…
“All dressed up today” 😂 https://t.co/gEuLhxqvfu
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 28, 2025
A moment of levity in the Oval Office: "I do like your clothing, by the way." pic.twitter.com/6kkqcpzvf2
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
Wut…
What is Zelensky doing while 47 answers questions? pic.twitter.com/3gxEB5fXRk
— Sandy 〽️ (@RightGlockMom) February 28, 2025
The day before the meeting, Trump softened his tone on the ‘dictator’ comment, saying that he now has a “lot of respect” for the Ukrainian leader (who’s canceled elections, banned the Orthodox Church, and outlawed non-USAID propaganda media).
Earlier, Zelensky said he met with a bipartisan US Senate delegation, which he described as “an important visit to the United States.”
“We take pride in having strategic partners and friends like the United States. We are grateful for the unwavering bicameral and bipartisan support for Ukraine throughout all three years of Russia’s full-scale aggression,” he said on X.
An important visit to the United States. In Washington, I met with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Senate.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 28, 2025
Our discussions focused on the continued military assistance for Ukraine, relevant legislative initiatives, my meeting with President Trump, efforts to achieve a just… pic.twitter.com/KJcosUpygc
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