Donald Trump isn’t fooling around anymore. It’s America First or nothing.
Now Trump yelled at this foreign leader for being ungrateful on live TV.
President Donald Trump dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the White House on Friday after a heated exchange in the Oval Office, cutting peace talks short and canceling a planned press conference.
The clash erupted after Zelenskyy openly criticized the United States for not doing enough to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting a strong response from both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, an administration official told the Daily Caller.
The confrontation began when Zelenskyy accused the U.S. of failing to stop Putin’s aggression, referencing Russia’s actions since 2014. His remarks quickly drew a sharp rebuke from Vance, who called the Ukrainian president “disrespectful” and accused him of using “propaganda tours” to manipulate public opinion.
“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance said.
“Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Zelenskyy, clearly agitated, fired back, challenging Vance’s understanding of the situation and defending Ukraine’s actions. But Vance wasn’t finished. He pointed out that Zelenskyy had not expressed any gratitude to the U.S. for its overwhelming support.
“Have you said ‘thank you,’ once?” Vance asked, before accusing Zelenskyy of campaigning against Trump during a visit to Pennsylvania in October. “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and to the president who’s trying to save your country,” Vance demanded.
Trump, growing visibly frustrated, joined in and delivered a scathing critique of Zelenskyy’s attitude. “We’re trying to solve a problem, don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump said.
“Because you’re in no position to dictate that… You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you’ll have the cards. You’re gambling with a lot of lives and millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III—and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country. It’s backed you far more than a lot of people say it should have.”
Shortly after the tense meeting, Trump took to Truth Social to explain his decision to cut the talks short.
“It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” Trump wrote. “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Oval Office blow-up was not pre-planned. Vance’s reaction, they said, was genuine and sparked by “Zelenskyy’s antics and insulting behavior.”
Trump, meanwhile, made it clear that the days of America being treated as a blank check for endless foreign wars are over.
The confrontation points to Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign policy.
Unlike the Biden administration, which funneled billions in taxpayer dollars to prop up Ukraine’s war effort, Trump has consistently called for peace through strength and demanded accountability from foreign leaders who rely on U.S. support.
And as the explosive Oval Office meeting showed, Trump is no longer willing to tolerate foreign leaders lecturing America while cashing in on its generosity.
