The weirdest thing Trump said to Zelenskyy
Trump dons his true Putinist colors.
Nearly everything Donald Trump said to Volodymyr Zelenskyy was weird. But one thing was weirdest of all.
Throughout most of the exchange, Trump sat even-tempered. He remained calm, even while commiserating with Vladimir Putin for “suffering through” the Russian investigation with him, and accusing Zelenskyy of having “tremendous hatred” for the Russian president. But his demeanor reversed as soon as Zelenskyy mentioned that Putin poses a threat to the U.S.
Zelenskyy: “You have nice ocean and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless—God bless—God bless you will not have a war.”
Most people would take no offense at the reminder of a common enemy. Trump, on the other hand, exploded: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
Zelenskyy: “I’m not telling you. I am answering on these questions.” Trump: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that. Remember that.” Zelenskyy: “I’m not dictating.” Trump: “You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good.” Zelenskyy: “You will feel influenced.” Trump: “We are going to feel very good and very strong.” Zelenskyy: “I am telling you. You will feel influenced.” Trump: “You are, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position—” Zelenskyy: “From the very beginning of the war, Mr. Pres—” Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.” Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious. I am the president in a war.” Trump: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.” Zelenskyy: “What are you speaking about?” Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
The outlandish and embarrassing moment was triggered by a mere mention of Putin as a danger that Americans should be worried about.
And that is worrying. Look at what Trump was saying: “We’re going to feel very good.”
“We’re going to feel very good” when Putin directs hostilities at the United States? What a weird thing to say!
There is only one reason Trump would belittle Zelenskyy. And it’s the same reason he has surrounded himself with yes-men and Russia sympathizers. And the same reason he wants Canada, the Panama Canal, Greenland, and Gaza. And the same reason he demands 50% of Ukraine’s minerals.
While he fixated on Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit, Trump donned his true Putinist colors.
Maybe he expects to “feel very good” dressed that way, but what about the rest of the U.S.?
We are better off wearing the somber garb of Zelenskyy and courageously fighting a common threat together, with the goal of protecting innocent people from aggression.
The fear-mongering about World War III, as Trump often does, is a card Russia also plays. But it’s a bluff. Putin is losing a war and weakening his country. All Ukraine needs to do is keep fighting, don’t fold, and they will win. A win for Ukraine is also a win for Europe and the United States. Many Americans have fallen for the lie that supporting Ukraine is just too expensive. That is far from the truth. Just imagine the cost of a U.S. president playing for the enemy.