JUST IN: President Trump and Vice President JD Vance excoriate President Zelensky during heated meet

[Right_in_Virginia]

 

 

[MeganC]

You behave just like a Russian troll from TOS.

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1895554419305091087

[mountaineer]

You behave just like a Russian troll from TOS.

Well, that was creative.

[libertybele]

You behave just like a Russian troll from TOS.

??? Nice. Yet another insult against one of my fellow Briefers.  Did someone whizz in your Cheerios this morning Megan?

Anyways back on topic; "President Trump and Vice president JD Vance excoriate President Zelensky...."

President Trump and VP Vance work very well together and both gave Z what he deserved in showing him the door!  He also lied to our Secy' State.  As I have stated many times, Z cannnot be trusted. 

[mystery-ak]

This is a fair description

Richard Hanania
@RichardHanania
I watched the entire press conference with Zelensky. There was 40  minutes of discussion up to the argument. Most people saw at most the last ten minutes. The whole video gives the proper context.

When I first watched the argument without the proper context, I thought it was possible that Trump and Vance ambushed Zelensky or were even trying to humiliate him. That's not what happened.

You had 40 minutes of calm conversation. Vance made a point that didn't attack Zelensky and wasn't even addressed to him, and Zelensky clearly started the argument.

In the first 40 minutes, Zelensky kept trying to go beyond what was negotiated in the deal. When Trump was asked a question, it was always "we'll see." Zelensky made blanket assertions that there would be no negotiating with Putin, and that Russia would pay for the war. When Trump said that it was a tragedy that people on both sides were dying, Zelensky interjected that the Russians were the invaders.

For his part, Trump made clear that the US would continue delivering military aid. All Zelensky had to do was remain calm for a few more minutes and they would've signed a deal.

The argument started when Trump pointed out that it would be hard to make a deal if you talk about Putin the way Zelensky does. Vance interjects to make the reasonable point that Biden called Putin names and that didn't get us anywhere.

The Zelensky/Trump dynamic was calm and stable. It was when Vance spoke that Zelensky started to interrogate him. Throughout the press conference to that point, everyone was making their arguments directly to the  audience. Zelensky decided to challenge Vance and ask him hostile questions. He went back to his point that Putin never sticks to ceasefires, once again implying that negotiations are pointless. Why on earth would you do this? Then came the fight we all saw.

Zelensky was minutes away from being home free, and he would have had the deal and new commitments from the Trump administration. The point Vance made was directed against Biden and the media, taking them to task for speaking in moralistic terms. This offended Zelensky, and that began the argument.

I've been a fan of Zelensky up to this point, but this showed so much incompetence, if not emotional instability, that I don't see how he recovers from this. The relationship with the administration is broken. Ukraine should probably go with new leadership at this point.
1:53 PM · Feb 28, 2025
·
3.7M
 Views
🇺🇸 The Briefing Room 🇺🇸 🇮🇱

[libertybele]

https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1895554419305091087

I'm not a Rubio fan, but so far, so good with him.

[rustynail]

[DB]

This is a fair description

Yep. I'll be surprised if Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's leader come Monday. Putin is the only one smiling.

[mystery-ak]

Sharyl Attkisson 🕵️‍♂️💼🥋
@SharylAttkisson
·
1h
My hot take? Zelenskyy was encouraged by certain European leaders to take on Trump in front of the media.
It may have backfired.
Hear me out.

https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1895613374987452494

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

IMO Zelensky looks better than Trump here. 

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/BehizyTweets/status/1895581627453259801

[libertybele]

Yep. I'll be surprised if Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's leader come Monday. Putin is the only one smiling.

I believe both Putin and Xi are smiling. I'm not quite sure what Z was expecting, other than maybe he was so used to dealing with Joe that he that he was going to control the narrative.

I watched about 2 minutes of the interview with Z on Bret Baier -- I just can no longer believe anything that he says.  He's playing a very dangerous game.  Just my opinion.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1895616525262078042

Joey Mannarino
@JoeyMannarinoUS
·
1m
But he won’t let the Ukrainian people vote.

[libertybele]

IMO Zelensky looks better than Trump here. 

Well, you're entitled to your opinion; but keep in mind that Z had told Rubio that he was coming to the U.S. to sign a deal involving rare earth minerals and the U.S. in exchange would help him.  That's not what transpired. If you look back a few pages you'll see a picture of a fuming Rubio as he was watching and listening to what unfolded between Z, Trump and Vance.

I definitely am on team Trump on this one and as time has progressed I am not a fan of Z. IMHO he just flushed his country down the toilet.   I fear for the people of Ukraine.

[240B]

Just finished watching the interview. The Z-man did not make anything better.
He is a stubborn mule. Who apparently has no idea what 'negotiation' is all about.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Where can I get a full transcript of this exchange? I didn't hear what Zelensky was saying at all, just Trump. I think most people here only heard Trump's stuff and made up their minds.

[mystery-ak]

Tomi Lahren
@TomiLahren
The people who are siding with Zelenskyy:

1) war mongers who benefit from endless wars

2) defense contractors

3) Light weight Dems who hate Trump and hate America

4) People who still wear Covid masks

5) Adam Kinzinger

6) Men who pee sitting down (see #5)

The people who are siding with Trump:

1) EVERYONE ELSE
Last edited
3:13 PM · Feb 28, 2025
·
255.5K
 Views
🇺🇸 The Briefing Room 🇺🇸 🇮🇱

[libertybele]

Just finished watching the interview. The Z-man did not make anything better.
He is a stubborn mule. Who apparently has no idea what 'negotiation' is all about.

Is he a poor negotiator or does the fact that he doesn't want the cash cow to end come into play?

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Is he a poor negotiator or does the fact that he doesn't want the cash cow to end come into play?

Both Yes

[DefiantMassRINO]

Putin will co-op their Governments with pro-Russian operatives, and those countries will withdraw from NATO, invite Russians in, or Russia will blitzkrieg the Baltic States before NATO could respond ... Putin will double-dog-dare NATO to defend the Baltic States.

Britain and France made security guarantees to Czechoslovakia and Poland int he 1930s.  Neither was able or willing to come to their rescue.

No. Because Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia  are members of NATO.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Well, you're entitled to your opinion; but keep in mind that Z had told Rubio that he was coming to the U.S. to sign a deal involving rare earth minerals and the U.S. in exchange would help him.  That's not what transpired. If you look back a few pages you'll see a picture of a fuming Rubio as he was watching and listening to what unfolded between Z, Trump and Vance.

I definitely am on team Trump on this one and as time has progressed I am not a fan of Z. IMHO he just flushed his country down the toilet.   I fear for the people of Ukraine.

Rubio super pissed off

JUST IN: Secretary of State Marco Rubio Terminates US Support of Ukraine’s Power Grid
Secretary of State Marco Rubio terminated the US’s support for Ukraine’s power grid.

The State Department ended a USAID initiative that has given hundreds of millions of dollars to the restoration of Ukraine’s power grid.

Ukraine has been struggling with power outages because of Russia’s attacks on its power grid over the last few years.

USAID will also drastically reduce its presence in Ukraine, according to NBC News.
The State Department this week terminated a U.S. Agency for International Development initiative that has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore Ukraine’s energy grid from attacks by the Russian military, according to two USAID officials working on the agency’s Ukraine mission.

Power outages have been applied overnight in some regions of Ukraine due to the attacks on energy facilities. The country’s systems have sustained near-constant impact throughout the course of the three-year war.

“It significantly undercuts this administration’s abilities to negotiate on the ceasefire, and it’d signal to Russia that we don’t care about Ukraine or our past investments,” one USAID official involved in the Ukraine mission told NBC News.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/just-secretary-state-marco-rubio-terminates-us-support/

[bilo]

Rumor has it that Parliament is in session and that they are talking about impeaching him.  Rightfully so.  The way he came here thinking he was going to out maneuver Trump in front of the press absolutely backfired and it appeared that he wasn't thinking of ending the war nor peace.

He did this after he told Rubio that he would sign the mineral deal.

[libertybele]

He did this after he told Rubio that he would sign the mineral deal.

Yes.

[bilo]

Lots of people said the same thing in 1914 and 1939.

Lots of sensible people didn't believe Billy Mitchell saying the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbor someday.

In any case history makes clear that appeasing dictators like Putin encourages them in their aims.

Worse, Trump is legitimizing future conflicts over ethnic populations that have aggressively settled in or have colonized other countries.

Sorry, but this kind of crap just never ends well.

I feel sorry for the people in Ukraine who still remain there. Zelenskyy is not likely to apologize and ask for the mineral deal to go ahead. I doubt the Ukrainian govt will be able to impeach Zelenskyy. The war will go on and Ukraine will be destroyed. Europe won't be of much help.

Pres. Trump is right though. We are not going to get involved in anymore wars in Europe. Our focus will be in the western hemisphere and our defense.

[240B]

Rumor has it that Parliament is in session and that they are talking about impeaching him.  Rightfully so.  The way he came here thinking he was going to out maneuver Trump in front of the press absolutely backfired and it appeared that he wasn't thinking of ending the war nor peace.

It would seem that Trump was right about everything ... again. It is Zelinsky who is blocking peace. Trump wants peace. Russia is willing to settle. Europe wants peace. Zelinsky says, NO!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/28/trump-zelensky-meeting-transcript-full-text-video-oval-office/

There's the full transcript.

Trump and Vance don't come off good. Make you feel bad for Zelensky. I dunno. There should be a mutual respect of a guy who is up against the wall from a huge bully.

I don't think Zelensky was disrespectful at all. Even thanks the American people.

 

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1895605204529397934

[DB]

It would seem that Trump was right about everything ... again. It is Zelinsky who is blocking peace. Trump wants peace. Russia is willing to settle. Europe wants peace. Zelinsky says, NO!

I don't know. If someone robs your home, kills several family members and then demands he'll stop killing your family if you surrender 20% of your home you may not want that kind of "peace" either. It isn't an unreasonable demand that they get out of your home.

[Kamaji]

It would seem that Trump was right about everything ... again. It is Zelinsky who is blocking peace. Trump wants peace. Russia is willing to settle. Europe wants peace. Zelinsky says, NO!

No. Trump wants Ukraine to capitulate to the Russian aggressor. 

“Peace in our time” was as hollow a lie in Chamberlains mouth as its functional equivalent is in Trumps mouth. 

[bilo]

Yep. I'll be surprised if Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's leader come Monday. Putin is the only one smiling.

I don't think so. He probably wants the war to stop as well. He has to have foreign troops help and is buying weapons and ammunition from other countries. Worse, his country has a declining birthrate and a lot of younger men are being killed.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I don't think so. He probably wants the war to stop as well. He has to have foreign troops help and is buying weapons and ammunition from other countries. Worse, his country has a declining birthrate and a lot of younger men are being killed.

No, he's sending undesirables to the front only. Doesn't give two shits about that cannon fodder.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1895622360289722780

[240B]

No. Trump wants Ukraine to capitulate to the Russian aggressor. 

“Peace in our time” was as hollow a lie in Chamberlains mouth as its functional equivalent is in Trumps mouth.

I hear you. I understand what you all are saying. For me, surrendering 20% of my land instead of having 100% of my land lost may deserve some consideration, at least in the short term. Getting the rest of the 20% may happen in various ways. But for now, right now, the goal has to be to stop the loss. Stop the killing. Take a breather, and then reassess what is to be done next.

[Kamaji]

I hear you. I understand what you all are saying. For me, surrendering 20% of my land instead of having 100% of my land lost may deserve some consideration, at least in the short term. Getting the rest of the 20% may happen in various ways. But for now, right now, the goal has to be to stop the loss. Stop the killing. Take a breather, and then reassess what is to be done next.

The killing stops as soon as the Russians start behaving like human beings again and withdraw from Ukraine.


Pretty f-cking simple.  One would have thought that even a “smart guy” like Trump would have figured that out.  But apparently not.


Why hasn’t Trump put even a single iota of pressure on Putin to stop the war he started?   Not a single word.  Instead, it’s all about forcing Ukraine to capitulate. 


That’s disgusting.  It’s beyond disgusting. 

[bilo]

Just finished watching the interview. The Z-man did not make anything better.
He is a stubborn mule. Who apparently has no idea what 'negotiation' is all about.

I could understand if Rubio was happy to tell Zelenskyy to go home. The whole reason they were meeting was because Zelenskyy had told Rubio he agreed to the deal, then in front of the media he began renegotiating. I think this is why Trump told him to leave and come back when he wants peace. If you want to try and renegotiate something you previously agreed to you better have some leverage. Zelenskyy has none and now he's going to find out how little he has without the USA.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1895622360289722780

See to me and to some others it makes it look like they want Zelensky to grovel before Trump, which would be humiliating for any country. Personally, even if I was helping someone, which we are, no doubt, I'd still show them respect and not constantly bitch and moan about me not getting respect etc. Zelensky even thanked the American people during the little exchange.

[240B]

The killing stops as soon as the Russians start behaving like human beings again and withdraw from Ukraine.


Pretty f-cking simple.  One would have thought that even a “smart guy” like Trump would have figured that out.  But apparently not.


Why hasn’t Trump put even a single iota of pressure on Putin to stop the war he started?   Not a single word.  Instead, it’s all about forcing Ukraine to capitulate. 


That’s disgusting.  It’s beyond disgusting.

Yep. You encapsulated the Zelinsky position perfectly. Thank you.

[Kamaji]

Yep. You encapsulated the Zelinsky position perfectly. Thank you.

I encapsulated the common sense perspective. 

[240B]

See to me and to some others it makes it look like they want Zelensky to grovel before Trump, which would be humiliating for any country.

It has nothing to do with 'groveling'. Zelensky agreed to sign. Moments before the signing was supposed to happen, Zelensky brought up additional 'demands', which are outside of what he had already agreed to. Not groveling. Just do what you said you agreed to. That's all.

[American Girl]

The only thing standing in the way to a cease fire and peace in Ukraine is this sawed-off runt.
And why is Lindsey Graham turning on Zelensky now?

Money laundering is destroyed and untraceable?

https://www.rightjournalism.com/video-lindsey-graham-calls-on-zelensky-to-resign-his-response-on-fox-news-proves-why-hes-a-dictator/

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

It has nothing to do with 'groveling'. Zelensky agreed to sign. Moments before the signing was supposed to happen, Zelensky brought up additional 'demands', which are outside of what he had already agreed to. Not groveling. Just do what you said you agreed to. That's all.

Have you even read the full transcript? I posted it on here. I don't see Zelensky making demands, just he was offended by JD accusing him or something or other.

[bilo]

I don't know. If someone robs your home, kills several family members and then demands he'll stop killing your family if you surrender 20% of your home you may not want that kind of "peace" either. It isn't an unreasonable demand that they get out of your home.

In you hypothetical how are you going to force this guy out if there are no police to back you up and you have no guns.

I agree that Russia is the aggressor and has done horrific things, but how do you get it to stop? Ukraine has gone from 42 million to 25 million people. They don't have the forces to drive the Russians out. We sure aren't going to send our forces over there and get into a fight with a country that has 7,000 nuclear missiles.

[Bigun]

Since when is it OK for the political leader to make an agreement with SOSUS, go to the Whitehouse to sign and celebrate the deal and instead start negotiating again on camera? NO president should or would tolerate such as that!

[240B]

I encapsulated the common sense perspective.

Possibly you are right. But whether you are right or wrong does not matter. What matters is cold hard reality. Reality is not on your side.

[Kamaji]

In you hypothetical how are you going to force this guy out if there are no police to back you up and you have no guns.

I agree that Russia is the aggressor and has done horrific things, but how do you get it to stop? Ukraine has gone from 42 million to 25 million people. They don't have the forces to drive the Russians out. We sure aren't going to send our forces over there and get into a fight with a country that has 7,000 nuclear missiles.

Maybe you don’t have the President of the f_cking United States of America kissing the ass of the aggressor and pushing the innocent to surrender to the evil. 

[libertybele]

The killing stops as soon as the Russians start behaving like human beings again and withdraw from Ukraine.


Pretty f-cking simple.  One would have thought that even a “smart guy” like Trump would have figured that out.  But apparently not.


Why hasn’t Trump put even a single iota of pressure on Putin to stop the war he started?   Not a single word.  Instead, it’s all about forcing Ukraine to capitulate. 


That’s disgusting.  It’s beyond disgusting.

How do we know or not know whether or not Trump has put any pressure on Putin?  We don't.  Trump isn't going to show all of his cards; especially to Putin.

[Bigun]

Maybe you don’t have the President of the f_cking United States of America kissing the ass of the aggressor and pushing the innocent to surrender to the evil.

How is trying to lead a dumb ass like Zelinski toward saving a LOT of his country kissing Putin's ass? 

[Kamaji]

How do we know or not know whether or not Trump has put any pressure on Putin?  We don't.  Trump isn't going to show all of his cards; especially to Putin.

Because he hasn’t.  He hasn’t put a single bit of pressure publicly and Putins continuing actions clearly demonstrate that there hasn’t been any private pressure - except perhaps some prostate massage - in private, either.

[bilo]

Since when is it OK for the political leader to make an agreement with SOSUS, go to the Whitehouse to sign and celebrate the deal and instead start negotiating again on camera? NO president should or would tolerate such as that!

  and a thousand more times 

He came to the Whitehouse, sat in the oval office wearing a tee shirt and casual pants, and then tried talking over the POTUS to tell him what he must do. He never expressed any gratitude to the current admn. for meeting with him, or our continued support. He didn't express any desire to at least get a ceasefire in place while they tried to work everything out. Instead, he wasted everyone's time expressing his hatred for Putin and talking about how a final deal would require American forces.