The Oval Office ambush backfired. Trump misplayed his cards by being too obviously pro-Putin. The result is the majority of the world rallying around Zelenskyy and Ukraine all over again.
About the sycophants, Jess Piper said, “flipping on a leader like Zelenskyy for a traitor like Trump”. The sucking up is sycophancy to an extreme. We saw the two liars jump a chief of state for the news footage. Anything to stay in power. Disgusting conduct. Their mothers would not be proud. Watching a felon’s abusing, vile attack on a guest head of state will be remembered as a low point in our diplomatic history. Those Republicans trying to revise what happened to make it look like Zelenskyy was disrespecting us are charlatans and sycophants. Zelenskyy was quite respectful, and his hosts were not. Countries that do not allow felons should stick to their guns and ban our felon-in-chief. Please. Ban the asshole. His manners are disrespectful. Your women will not be safe. Your disabled will be mocked. Word salad will take weeks to find ultimately incoherence. The Trump Administration has worn out its welcome quite fast. Vance’s skiing trip was impacted by protests, and he had to find a hidden hotel. We will do better next time, JD. Tesla dealerships have become overcrowded with non buyers. The Tesla brand has become morally offensive. The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stood up to the verbally abusive assault from two assholes. I have seen enough of the White House gas lighting. The smoke and mirrors from Musk is bad enough. The lack of civil manners when hosting a head of state was despicable conduct. Felons generally do better. As Jeff Tiedrich says regarding the revisionist sycophants: FELON shits the bed and then Republicans take turns rolling in it. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/lauding-ukrainian-statemanship?r=3m1bsr=3m1bs
THe problem is that Trump does not care. Americans can't stop him and Musk from destroying America from within, and hoping that they can stop his attack on Ukraine and allying with Putin and Xi has little base... More over, Trump's attacks on Canada, Europe, and conceding Ukraine are designed to exactly help him destroy the resistance and opposition in the USA, and Putin and Xi are heling him.
Curious as we can see that the "deep state", almighty CIA, and Military Industrial Complex" have all been lies. There is no such thing. The US intel, law enforcement, national security failed us all totally. Biden was saying that he was a great statesman, but he was so much slow on both resistance: Putin and Trump.
There is no one coming to help us. Hoping that Europe or Canada can help against the most powerful man in the world is silly. Only regular people of the free world can have a chance, only if:
1) we are united
2) Imagine a new America instead of trying to save what we have had, because that old America has brought Trumpism (Putinism for the West) to power.
Hope that Trump is too old is also irrational, because they have the best health care humans could ever imagine.
I think I was most disgusted by Diaper Donny looking at the camera and saying “this would make good TV”. It was demonically scripted for effect and all the players,except Zelensky, played their roles. JD the loyal yapping lapdog snarling, and the feigned and hypocritical Diaper Donny booming lies and acting the ass. Marco looked very uncomfortable.
I was equally disgusted by the "news" guy (a.k.a MTG's boyfriend) chastising President Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit. And loved the dig Zelenskyy gave back re buying a suit "maybe one better than yours."
Trump, JD Vance and Rubio knew Russian TV was there transmitting directly to Putin. He didn’t need a script per se. That’s why he was looking directly at the camera. The Reality TV Star at his best. Ugh!
The reason Trump is so bad at diplomacy - not to mention any kind of negotiation or business - is because he's a malignant narcissist and everything is a zero-sum game to him. If you're nice to him and shower him with platitudes, he thinks you're amazing and will give you everything you want. If you don't kiss his ass, you're his enemy for life. He holds onto grudges and slights, no matter how small, and he can't see past them. This makes him utterly, hilariously easy to manipulate.
When can Trump be Fired? No joke. He is officially a Russian Puppet, Sociopathic, Unhinged and is literally dismantling American Democracy. Vance and Elon must go too. America will not survive with these idiots in Power.
.... not to mention the (majority of the) Republican, currently repugnant, Party. One can only wish and hope that the populus who voted for them will finally come to terms and grasp that besides verbal propaganda they are not doing anything for them to lower their financial burden (affordable health care and prescription drugs, a living wage/salary, etc.).
Perhaps it be best if the Republican Party disappears altogether - nothing good seems to have been coming out of it since the Reagan days started.
And the despicable nominated and now in power department heads are an affront to what the USA stood for at one point in time in the not so distant history.
The mafia is in the White House now and has their grasp on the levers of power in this country.
Yes...the good Ole days of Republicans wanting fiscal responsibility and les govt is over. Instead they are dismantling the parts of Government we need ( Social Security and Russian Oversight for example) and are in Women's and LGBTQ people's private lives. It is such a terrible thing to be in this Crisis with GOP Idiots like Lindsey Graham saying horrific things like Zelensky needs to resign. No, Trump needs to resign. But he won't...so before Social Security Crashes and they Destroy Medicaid and Medicare something must be done quickly. Right now stocks are crashing and burning from Trump's harsh Tarriffs and the World Understandably is looking at America like we are a Collection of Complete Unhinged Immoral Assholes. Anyone who voted for Trump is culpable for this utter nightmare. Trump kept showing EVERYONE who he truly is ( an evil shit) and he was voted in anyway. And now America is now run by corrupt unhinged Unqualified Egomaniac alcoholic Sociopaths.
My father, my father in law and 2 of my uncles were veterans. They would have been horrified and completely disgusted with Trump/Vance and the Republican Party’s treatment of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
These men were all Republicans, but they were willing to lay down their lives during WARS FOUGHT BY The UNITED STATES to stop the kind of government Trump/Vance/Musk/Vought are selling.
Your essay was correct. Americans don’t like Putin!!!
Great column thanks. I think most of us realized that Trump screwed himself on Friday but I am wondering why the Budapest Memorandum that guaranteed the security of Ukraine if they gave up their nuclear arsenal never seems to enter any conversation? Why didn't Biden stand up for Ukraine more than he did, with money and weapons considering we signed that agreement? Why does Trump think it's ok to screw Ukraine when Russia - the other signatory on the guarantee to protect Ukraine - not only ignored their end of the agreement but actively invaded Ukraine? Why is our word so worthless?
Good point. Here's another thing that never seems to enter any conversation. What about Putin's war crimes? I know he can't be arrested because he's protected, but he committed them and he can be indicted for them. That should be on the table.
What can an ordinary Missourian do about this Oval Office Trump-Vance debacle and America-to-the-world embarrassment? Here's what I tried--a direct apology to President Zelensky via the Ukraime embassy WDC: Sent email today to Ukraine Embassy WDC, in part (full name and location included)
"Attn: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States of America
Subject: Apology to President Zelensky
Dear Madam Ambassador Markarova: On behalf of myself and the majority of American people standing for the freedom of Ukraine, may I request that the following subject apology be forwarded to President Zelensky: Please apologize to President Zelenskyy for the shameful behaviour of President Trump and Vice-President Vance on Feb. 28, 2025. It was a despicable, pre-coordinated setup ambush by two bullies against one courageous man standing tall. Trump and Vance have forever stained the sacred honor of the Oval Office. Thank you. Sincerely, (Ordinary American citizen)”
Unfortunately we saw how that went last time. I don't think anything to do with foreign policy, no matter how egregious trump's behavior, is going to lead to impeachment when his behavior in this country couldn't do it.
Putin is now confirmed as our real Head of State. Musk is a 21st Century Rasputin. Donnie is the magnet that attracts the dumbfuck traitors that vote against their own interests and against the interests of our country. Global superpower status requires allies. When the maga movement undermines the role of the U.S. as a global superpower, not only are they saying that the U.S. should no longer lead, they’re also saying, by default, that it’s time for a country like Russia to tell us what to do. This not a good time to shrug our shoulders and remain passive.
Little Marco is the schlemiel who silently tags along with the bullies. The first day of school, you thought he could be a friend, but he got talked into hangin' tough with the bullies, while he looks down at his feet when the bullies attack - he's their useful idiot.
With someone with a sociopathic delusion-of-grandeur and general deranged mentality and dementia kicking in as T, one of the questions to ponder in light of this mafia-style ambush set-up on Zelensky is: what if T gets it into his head and starts supporting Putin directly with armaments as he lost face on Friday? Who then will have extended and prolonged the war?
Apparently the only time NATO came to the aid of another member was after 91/11 - America First. Truly.
It most likely will happen that Ukraine will not want to continue any "minerals deal" with the USA - and why should they? The "Art-of-the-Deal - correction: steal - "GOAT" blew it. Well, ingrained behavior is hard to cover, not to mention do away with, after a lifetime of bullying - and exhibits the always existing MO.
Europe seems to be the much better negotiating partner.
And shame on the news media not properly reporting on why Zelensky was wearing the black outfit that he did, after the moronic and sycophant question from M Taylor Greene's boyfriend Glenn from Newsmax was asked - and off course it is ok when the richest American ketamine-addict wears black in and brings his snot smearing 3-year old into the Oval Office.
Anyone recalling the Zelensky actually has no financial wealth as he gave it all away?
A 3-year war veteran from a country fighting one of the nuclear super powers (at least that is what we are being told) being condescended on by a bone-spur draft dodger, and his side-show JDV.
Trump and diplomacy should never be used in the same sentence. Putin either has something on him or gave him money to ambush Zelensky and the to metaphorically shoot him on Fifth Avenue — except he won’t get away with it. It may not be soon, but sadly in a few years we Americans will reap the harvest of hate that Trump sowed on Friday.
You don’t invite a guest to your home and castigate him, it just isn’t something that happens unless you’re a thug. That JD attacked him is even more disgraceful, President Zelenskyy is a head of state, JD is only a VP.
Trump is loyal to Putin yet he is president. He doesn’t represent our American values. How is this going to work? What will MAGAt republicans do now with Trump describing Putin and he living through hardship together. Time to evaluate their allegiance, whether to America or Putin.
About the sycophants, Jess Piper said, “flipping on a leader like Zelenskyy for a traitor like Trump”. The sucking up is sycophancy to an extreme. We saw the two liars jump a chief of state for the news footage. Anything to stay in power. Disgusting conduct. Their mothers would not be proud. Watching a felon’s abusing, vile attack on a guest head of state will be remembered as a low point in our diplomatic history. Those Republicans trying to revise what happened to make it look like Zelenskyy was disrespecting us are charlatans and sycophants. Zelenskyy was quite respectful, and his hosts were not. Countries that do not allow felons should stick to their guns and ban our felon-in-chief. Please. Ban the asshole. His manners are disrespectful. Your women will not be safe. Your disabled will be mocked. Word salad will take weeks to find ultimately incoherence. The Trump Administration has worn out its welcome quite fast. Vance’s skiing trip was impacted by protests, and he had to find a hidden hotel. We will do better next time, JD. Tesla dealerships have become overcrowded with non buyers. The Tesla brand has become morally offensive. The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stood up to the verbally abusive assault from two assholes. I have seen enough of the White House gas lighting. The smoke and mirrors from Musk is bad enough. The lack of civil manners when hosting a head of state was despicable conduct. Felons generally do better. As Jeff Tiedrich says regarding the revisionist sycophants: FELON shits the bed and then Republicans take turns rolling in it. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/lauding-ukrainian-statemanship?r=3m1bsr=3m1bs
THe problem is that Trump does not care. Americans can't stop him and Musk from destroying America from within, and hoping that they can stop his attack on Ukraine and allying with Putin and Xi has little base... More over, Trump's attacks on Canada, Europe, and conceding Ukraine are designed to exactly help him destroy the resistance and opposition in the USA, and Putin and Xi are heling him.
Curious as we can see that the "deep state", almighty CIA, and Military Industrial Complex" have all been lies. There is no such thing. The US intel, law enforcement, national security failed us all totally. Biden was saying that he was a great statesman, but he was so much slow on both resistance: Putin and Trump.
There is no one coming to help us. Hoping that Europe or Canada can help against the most powerful man in the world is silly. Only regular people of the free world can have a chance, only if:
1) we are united
2) Imagine a new America instead of trying to save what we have had, because that old America has brought Trumpism (Putinism for the West) to power.
Hope that Trump is too old is also irrational, because they have the best health care humans could ever imagine.
Yes.
I think I was most disgusted by Diaper Donny looking at the camera and saying “this would make good TV”. It was demonically scripted for effect and all the players,except Zelensky, played their roles. JD the loyal yapping lapdog snarling, and the feigned and hypocritical Diaper Donny booming lies and acting the ass. Marco looked very uncomfortable.
I was equally disgusted by the "news" guy (a.k.a MTG's boyfriend) chastising President Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit. And loved the dig Zelenskyy gave back re buying a suit "maybe one better than yours."
Trump, JD Vance and Rubio knew Russian TV was there transmitting directly to Putin. He didn’t need a script per se. That’s why he was looking directly at the camera. The Reality TV Star at his best. Ugh!
The reason Trump is so bad at diplomacy - not to mention any kind of negotiation or business - is because he's a malignant narcissist and everything is a zero-sum game to him. If you're nice to him and shower him with platitudes, he thinks you're amazing and will give you everything you want. If you don't kiss his ass, you're his enemy for life. He holds onto grudges and slights, no matter how small, and he can't see past them. This makes him utterly, hilariously easy to manipulate.
He is not bad at diplomacy. Trump is delivering what he has promised publically to all and privately to Putin in 2024.
When can Trump be Fired? No joke. He is officially a Russian Puppet, Sociopathic, Unhinged and is literally dismantling American Democracy. Vance and Elon must go too. America will not survive with these idiots in Power.
.... not to mention the (majority of the) Republican, currently repugnant, Party. One can only wish and hope that the populus who voted for them will finally come to terms and grasp that besides verbal propaganda they are not doing anything for them to lower their financial burden (affordable health care and prescription drugs, a living wage/salary, etc.).
Perhaps it be best if the Republican Party disappears altogether - nothing good seems to have been coming out of it since the Reagan days started.
And the despicable nominated and now in power department heads are an affront to what the USA stood for at one point in time in the not so distant history.
The mafia is in the White House now and has their grasp on the levers of power in this country.
Yes...the good Ole days of Republicans wanting fiscal responsibility and les govt is over. Instead they are dismantling the parts of Government we need ( Social Security and Russian Oversight for example) and are in Women's and LGBTQ people's private lives. It is such a terrible thing to be in this Crisis with GOP Idiots like Lindsey Graham saying horrific things like Zelensky needs to resign. No, Trump needs to resign. But he won't...so before Social Security Crashes and they Destroy Medicaid and Medicare something must be done quickly. Right now stocks are crashing and burning from Trump's harsh Tarriffs and the World Understandably is looking at America like we are a Collection of Complete Unhinged Immoral Assholes. Anyone who voted for Trump is culpable for this utter nightmare. Trump kept showing EVERYONE who he truly is ( an evil shit) and he was voted in anyway. And now America is now run by corrupt unhinged Unqualified Egomaniac alcoholic Sociopaths.
My father, my father in law and 2 of my uncles were veterans. They would have been horrified and completely disgusted with Trump/Vance and the Republican Party’s treatment of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
These men were all Republicans, but they were willing to lay down their lives during WARS FOUGHT BY The UNITED STATES to stop the kind of government Trump/Vance/Musk/Vought are selling.
Your essay was correct. Americans don’t like Putin!!!
Republicans need to remember that.
Great column thanks. I think most of us realized that Trump screwed himself on Friday but I am wondering why the Budapest Memorandum that guaranteed the security of Ukraine if they gave up their nuclear arsenal never seems to enter any conversation? Why didn't Biden stand up for Ukraine more than he did, with money and weapons considering we signed that agreement? Why does Trump think it's ok to screw Ukraine when Russia - the other signatory on the guarantee to protect Ukraine - not only ignored their end of the agreement but actively invaded Ukraine? Why is our word so worthless?
Don’t blame Biden
Good point. Here's another thing that never seems to enter any conversation. What about Putin's war crimes? I know he can't be arrested because he's protected, but he committed them and he can be indicted for them. That should be on the table.
What can an ordinary Missourian do about this Oval Office Trump-Vance debacle and America-to-the-world embarrassment? Here's what I tried--a direct apology to President Zelensky via the Ukraime embassy WDC: Sent email today to Ukraine Embassy WDC, in part (full name and location included)
"Attn: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States of America
Subject: Apology to President Zelensky
Dear Madam Ambassador Markarova: On behalf of myself and the majority of American people standing for the freedom of Ukraine, may I request that the following subject apology be forwarded to President Zelensky: Please apologize to President Zelenskyy for the shameful behaviour of President Trump and Vice-President Vance on Feb. 28, 2025. It was a despicable, pre-coordinated setup ambush by two bullies against one courageous man standing tall. Trump and Vance have forever stained the sacred honor of the Oval Office. Thank you. Sincerely, (Ordinary American citizen)”
s/s (full name and location, Farmington, MO
Larry this is so Wonderful! Good for you!
If we can use it to get some Repubs to be open to impeachment, it's a win!
Unfortunately we saw how that went last time. I don't think anything to do with foreign policy, no matter how egregious trump's behavior, is going to lead to impeachment when his behavior in this country couldn't do it.
Putin is now confirmed as our real Head of State. Musk is a 21st Century Rasputin. Donnie is the magnet that attracts the dumbfuck traitors that vote against their own interests and against the interests of our country. Global superpower status requires allies. When the maga movement undermines the role of the U.S. as a global superpower, not only are they saying that the U.S. should no longer lead, they’re also saying, by default, that it’s time for a country like Russia to tell us what to do. This not a good time to shrug our shoulders and remain passive.
Very True Jose!
Little Marco is the schlemiel who silently tags along with the bullies. The first day of school, you thought he could be a friend, but he got talked into hangin' tough with the bullies, while he looks down at his feet when the bullies attack - he's their useful idiot.
With someone with a sociopathic delusion-of-grandeur and general deranged mentality and dementia kicking in as T, one of the questions to ponder in light of this mafia-style ambush set-up on Zelensky is: what if T gets it into his head and starts supporting Putin directly with armaments as he lost face on Friday? Who then will have extended and prolonged the war?
Apparently the only time NATO came to the aid of another member was after 91/11 - America First. Truly.
It most likely will happen that Ukraine will not want to continue any "minerals deal" with the USA - and why should they? The "Art-of-the-Deal - correction: steal - "GOAT" blew it. Well, ingrained behavior is hard to cover, not to mention do away with, after a lifetime of bullying - and exhibits the always existing MO.
Europe seems to be the much better negotiating partner.
And shame on the news media not properly reporting on why Zelensky was wearing the black outfit that he did, after the moronic and sycophant question from M Taylor Greene's boyfriend Glenn from Newsmax was asked - and off course it is ok when the richest American ketamine-addict wears black in and brings his snot smearing 3-year old into the Oval Office.
Anyone recalling the Zelensky actually has no financial wealth as he gave it all away?
A 3-year war veteran from a country fighting one of the nuclear super powers (at least that is what we are being told) being condescended on by a bone-spur draft dodger, and his side-show JDV.
America. The beautiful.
trump is many cards short of a full deck - as they say.
Trump and diplomacy should never be used in the same sentence. Putin either has something on him or gave him money to ambush Zelensky and the to metaphorically shoot him on Fifth Avenue — except he won’t get away with it. It may not be soon, but sadly in a few years we Americans will reap the harvest of hate that Trump sowed on Friday.
You don’t invite a guest to your home and castigate him, it just isn’t something that happens unless you’re a thug. That JD attacked him is even more disgraceful, President Zelenskyy is a head of state, JD is only a VP.
Trump is loyal to Putin yet he is president. He doesn’t represent our American values. How is this going to work? What will MAGAt republicans do now with Trump describing Putin and he living through hardship together. Time to evaluate their allegiance, whether to America or Putin.
I thought same- quite ironic their attack on Zelenskyy completely backfired! We are lucky they are so stupid!😏