Discussion Thread: Press Conference with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

News and Analysis:

• BBC: Zelensky to meet Trump in Washington to sign minerals deal

• BBC: What we know about US-Ukraine minerals deal

Live Updates:

Relevant text-based live update pages are being maintained by the following outlets: AP, NBC, The Guardian, CNN (soft paywall), and The Washington Post (soft paywall).

Where to Watch:

• C-SPAN: President Trump & Ukrainian President Zelensky Hold Joint Press Conference (scheduled to start at 1 p.m.) (Second link, first appears to be non-functional)

• C-SPAN: Ukrainian President Zelensky at Hudson Institute (scheduled to start at 4 p.m.) (Update: Per Reuters, the Hudson Institute event has been canceled).

[u/red08171]

holy fucking shit... Trump and vance are such assholes.

[u/OutlyingPlasma → u/red08171]

Trump said "This will make great television". This was all planned.

[u/damned-dirtyape → u/OutlyingPlasma]

For Putin

[u/grundleplith61616 → u/[deleted]]

The president planning ahead of time to big-dick another world leader with cameras in the room so the world can see isn't a "conspiracy."

[u/bobbyjumper → u/red08171]

I was blown away at how egregious that whole thing was. Zelenskyy is a champion for siting through that and the only reason I imagine he didn't walk out on Trump and Vance being morons is because Zelenskyy would never walk out on Ukraine. Fuck imagine having to suffer those two yelling at you when you and you're people have sacrificed so much over the last few years.

[u/ur-krokodile → u/[deleted]]

Exactly, this was just for the show so they can say that they tried but it's all Zelensky's fault. Taken directly from ruzzian playbook.

[u/bogglebinx → u/[deleted]]

Vance’s little speech definitely seemed rehearsed/planned.

[u/TranscendentPretzel → u/bogglebinx]

When Zelensky asked if he'd been to Ukraine. "I've been to...I've seen...I've watched some videos." What a fucking tool. Jesus Christ.

[u/Lower-Cantaloupe3274 → u/[deleted]]

That is exactly what I said earlier. He had talking points and he just pushed through with them even though they didn't make sense in the context. He fancies himself to be smart and a great debater, but he just showed his hand. The best he's got is a speech, and not even a good one.

[u/red08171 → u/bobbyjumper]

I was blown away at how egregious that whole thing was.

I wanted to throw shit at the TV watching it. The couch fucker needed to stop licking trumps ass. Put Trump on the front lines in Ukraine and watch how his ass gets bone spurs again.

[u/Pan_Bookish_Ent → u/red08171]

I know that this may seem minor to some, but it pissed me off and showed that disrespect was the game plan from the beginning... When that conservative asshole mocked him and said (paraphrasing) "Why don't you wear a suit? Leaders of the world are supposed to dress in suits" and everyone chuckled.

Zelensky told the idiot that it was because he is both active military and a wartime president, and this was his uniform. He also cast just the tiniest bit of shade by telling him that he looked forward to buying a suit again, though it would probably be cheaper than what the guy was wearing.

He was well prepared for the meeting, and was respectful and grateful to be there. He showed Trump pictures of the tragedies, the devastation, and dead soldiers and civilians. Trump just kinda flipped through them with no expression and then handed them back.

In the past, Zelensky said he'd do anything for his country. That if it meant the end of the war, he'd resign and step down immediately. He was willing to give the US so much if that meant he could count on them for support. Elon's employees can't fathom that someone in his position wouldn't take advantage of his country. The respect that Zelensky has around the world made them feel inadequate and angry.

You could still see the moment he realized he was dealing with a room full of children, especially the poopy baby throwing a tantrum next to him. He already knew Trump is full of shit but I don't think he expected to be treated this poorly. JD accused him of having too much pride to show gratitude and releasing propaganda, and he kinda snapped back at that point and made Vance look really stupid. Trump literally grabbed Zelensky's arm and pushed him at one point, and I saw the face of the man Putin is afraid of.

Zelensky remained respectful, calm, collected, well spoken, and grateful towards the president and the US throughout. He looked strong, and having him in the room made Trump and Vance look like the ignorant playground bullies that they were, and Vance was particularly rankled that this man was everything he'd never be - a hero.

[u/[deleted] → u/red08171]

I'm more shocked at the fact that Elon wasn't there too

[u/SnarfSniffsStardust → u/[deleted]]

He’s purely there as rage bait. They dial him back if they feel like they’re getting too much heat. If you’re seeing less of Elon on your feed it’s because they’re feeling pressure. When you see more of it it means there isn’t enough outrage. Practicing outrage in moderation is the strategy for me because they feast on it

[u/Sarrdonicus → u/[deleted]]

Then JD couldn't toss his "wear a suit" jab he practiced all weak.

[u/Fedaccount123 → u/red08171]

Team tag school yard bullies. American humiliation on a global scale.

[u/GaimeGuy → u/red08171]

They're assholes and domestic enemies

[u/hotdogcolors → u/red08171]

That’s vicious slander against the kindly assholes of the world.

[u/yoanon → u/red08171]

I can't think of adjectives appropriate for those two or anyone who watched that and thought "WoW President Trump so strong". Trump and Vance were emetic.

[u/Gioenn9 → u/red08171]

barely over a month into his 48 month long administration and he never ceases to demonstrate this amazing ability to outdo himself and make more awful news every day. This MFer is like "you think we're at rock bottom? I haven't even begun to start yet"

[u/RichLather → u/red08171]

Soooo do ya think they're all having a nice lunch right now?

Odds on no agreement being signed?

[u/JeanLucPicardAND → u/red08171]

Yeah, this was pretty undeniable. You can't watch this and walk away from it saying that Trump is not a bully with any credibility. The only options are to condemn it or be okay with it.

Denial is no longer credible.

[u/Appropriate_World265 → u/red08171]

That's an insult to my arsehole. Its betrayed me several times, but never like what I just saw on the BBC tonight.

[u/ArtifactFan65 → u/red08171]

There was only one slave owner in that room and they weren't American.

[u/bibear54 → u/red08171]

he’s getting cooked!