Trump, Zelensky clash openly in tense Oval Office meeting

A heated argument erupted in the Oval Office Friday when President Donald Trump harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighting serious concerns about future American support for Ukraine.

This confrontation was unprecedented – no American president has ever publicly attacked a visiting foreign leader this way. The meeting quickly led to a breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv, with Trump even threatening to abandon support for Ukraine altogether.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance loudly accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for American aid and blamed him for preventing peace with Russia. After the argument, Zelensky was essentially forced to leave the White House, looking visibly upset.

During their exchange, Trump told Zelensky: “You’re right now, not really in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump told the Ukrainian president. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky said.

Raising his voice, after more back-and-forth, Trump said, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

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Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful,” with Trump adding, “You’re not acting all that thankful.”

“Have you said ‘thank you’ once?” Vance asked Zelensky.

After this tense meeting, Trump met with his key advisors – Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – and decided Zelensky wasn’t ready to negotiate. Trump then ordered Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to tell Zelensky it was time to leave.

The Ukrainian delegation was waiting in another room, which is normal during White House visits. Usually, both parties would later meet for lunch. However, this time, the prepared meal of salad, chicken, and dessert went untouched as the Ukrainians were told to leave despite their protests.

Zelensky cancelled his scheduled speech at the Hudson Institute that afternoon. The planned joint press conference was cancelled, and Zelensky left without signing an agreement about US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Trump later posted online that Zelensky wouldn’t be welcome back until he was “ready for peace.”

Before this meeting, Trump had already called Zelensky a dictator, though he seemed less hostile the day before. The angry 10-minute exchange in the Oval Office was unusually public, showing perhaps the angriest Trump has ever been in public.

“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out,” Trump said, adding, “If we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it will be pretty.”

Vance, who has been mostly quiet during his early weeks as Vice President, created tension with Zelensky. Before joining Trump’s campaign, Vance was one of the strongest Republican critics of aid to Ukraine.