Summary

A dramatic Oval Office confrontation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored Trump’s hostility toward Ukraine and preference for negotiating with Russia.

Unlike past presidents who handled tense exchanges with allies privately, Trump and JD Vance berated Zelenskyy on camera, siding with Russia over a democratic ally.

This marked a break from decades of bipartisan U.S. policy that prioritized supporting democracies for stability and economic benefits.

Republicans largely praised Trump’s stance, while Democrats and European leaders firmly backed Ukraine. The meeting ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave after warning that Putin would eventually attack NATO countries.

  • Cosmic Cleric
    link
    English
    712 days ago

    From the article…

    Previous American presidents have had plenty of tense exchanges with allies, but often in private and never like this.

    What made this one different was not just that it unfolded with cameras rolling, but that it featured an American president siding with an autocratic and longtime adversary, Russia, against a nascent democracy that has struggled for years to break away from Moscow’s orbit and join the NATO alliance of Western democracies.

    • @Sanctus
      link
      English
      442 days ago

      Its dangerous and we shouldn’t allow this presidency to continue. Next thing we know we’ll be crushing other democratic nations with the autocracies until the whole world is enslaved.

      • @tomi000
        link
        172 days ago

        Isnt that the plan though? I think Trump is being pretty open about it.

      • Cosmic Cleric
        link
        English
        -152 days ago

        and we shouldn’t allow this presidency to continue.

        There are legal safeguards for that built-in.

        If you’re not just being hyperbolic (or astroturfing for anarchy), and there is some truth to what you’re saying, at some point those safe guards will kick in.

        And just because they haven’t kicked in yet doesn’t mean they won’t kick in later.

        This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

        • @Sanctus
          link
          English
          2
          edit-2
          20 hours ago

          I truly believe we need to do what the Civil Rights movement did. Bonus points if you bring tents and camp out for the double whammy strike.

        • @minnow
          link
          202 days ago

          Could you be more specific? Because the only safeguard I’m aware of is impeachment and removal, which requires both chambers of Congress to act against Trump and I just don’t believe that’s going to happen while Republicans control both chambers and impeachment certainly isn’t going to “kick in” as if it’s some automatic process.

          So I’m genuinely curious about what’s got you so optimistic

          • Cosmic Cleric
            link
            English
            -162 days ago

            Because the only safeguard I’m aware of is impeachment and removal, which requires both chambers of Congress to act against Trump and I just don’t believe that’s going to happen while Republicans control both chambers and impeachment certainly isn’t going to “kick in” as if it’s some automatic process.

            I believe you’re incorrect, I believe Congress at some point will act, and that’s what I was speaking of. Even a Republican lead one.

            You’re seeing some split by Republicans, objecting to how Zelensky was treated yesterday at the White House, and up to now you hadn’t seen any division whatsoever.

            At some point they’ll act, if it got to that point.

            So I’m genuinely curious about what’s got you so optimistic

            Oh I’m definately not optimistic, it’s going to be a long three years and tenish months, that’s for sure.

            I’m just not hyperbolic about it.

            This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0-

            • @AbidanYre
              link
              English
              14
              edit-2
              2 days ago

              Some Republicans also spoke out against J6 before they all decided it was a regular tourist visit and the violent mob were all political prisoners.

              Let’s see how they feel about this debacle in a week.

              • Cosmic Cleric
                link
                English
                11 day ago

                Well if the pressure is left off they’re go back into ‘Golum’ mode, clutching their precious ring (job/money/power).

                But if Trump accidentally or otherwise tries to take their ring away from them, things will change.

                This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

              • Cosmic Cleric
                link
                English
                -72 days ago

                The last safe guard is the second amendment.

                That’s something to discuss when we’re way closer to 100%, authoritanism, and not 0%.

                I hope enough liberals will realise that in time.

                You realize there are liberals that own guns, right?

                This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

                • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  72 days ago

                  You will never get to a breaking point. It’s cooking frogs from here all the way to a holocaust.

                • @[email protected]
                  link
                  fedilink
                  62 days ago

                  There liberal comment was literally because they have guns also that they hope they will act on the 2nd to save us. For someone correcting everyone you sure are misinterpreting a lot.

                  Also we are not close to 0%. I’d say at least >30% by made up metrics. Congress will not act, too many maga. Scotus just proved with their stay of USAID that they will back Trump. Vance openly said no one can enforce the Judicial as the US Marshals are under the executive. It’s bleak.

                  • Cosmic Cleric
                    link
                    English
                    11 day ago

                    There liberal comment was literally because they have guns also that they hope they will act on the 2nd to save us.

                    Well the stereotype is that liberals dont’ have guns. /shrug

                    For someone correcting everyone you sure are misinterpreting a lot.

                    So, we’re not allot to disagree with others here on Lemmy? Just read, and move on?

                    Otherwise, one persons correction is another persons disagreement and discussion.

                    Also we are not close to 0%. I’d say at least >30% by made up metrics.

                    Not that I agree with the made-up 30% number, but I don’t think its time to call for everyone to know where their guns are at at 30%.

                    Congress will not act, too many maga.

                    Congress will not act YET.

                    If you can say anything about Congress, they REALLY care about themselves and their money and their jobs. The second Trump risks any of those, things will be afoot at the Circle K, regardless of MAGA.

                    Scotus just proved with their stay of USAID that they will back Trump.

                    That’s not how SCOTUS works, with it comes with temporary stays. There’s been times when they’ve stayed something, then did the exact opposive when hearing the case formally.

                    Vance openly said no one can enforce the Judicial as the US Marshals are under the executive. It’s bleak.

                    I’ll definately give you this one. No VP of either party should ever say something like that. And the non-supreme courts will pimp-slap him back in line.

                    Having said that, that bluster without action is < 30%. They’re doing allot of ‘rope-a-dope’ as well as actions. Judge on the actions, not on the words.

                    This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

        • @grue
          link
          English
          82 days ago

          No, there really aren’t. Every single one has been systematically dismantled already.