{"id":2407949,"date":"2025-02-28T13:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T18:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-cuts-short-zelenskys-white-house-visit-after-heated-oval-office-meeting-you-dont-have-the-cards-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-28T13:43:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T18:43:03","slug":"trump-cuts-short-zelenskys-white-house-visit-after-heated-oval-office-meeting-you-dont-have-the-cards-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-cuts-short-zelenskys-white-house-visit-after-heated-oval-office-meeting-you-dont-have-the-cards-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump cuts short Zelensky\u2019s White House visit after heated Oval Office meeting: \u2018You don\u2019t have the cards\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-cuts-short-zelenskys-white-house-visit-after-heated-oval-office-meeting-you-dont-have-the-cards-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2407949&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a recent visit to teh White\u2063 House, tensions escalated between President Donald trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr zelensky. What\u200b began as an amicable meeting deteriorated into a heated\u200d exchange, which reportedly jeopardized ongoing negotiations\u200c regarding a rare earth \u200cminerals agreement and\u200d efforts to end the \u2063war in \u2064Ukraine. Trump&#8217;s frustration \u200dwas evident as\u2062 he accused Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and expressed doubts about Zelensky&#8217;s readiness for\u200d peace, asserting that the Ukrainian leader believed american involvement favored him in \u2064negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting, which included a canceled press conference and outbursts from both sides, highlighted the strained relationship\u2062 between Trump and Zelensky.\u2062 Trump\u2019s criticisms included his reluctance to blame Russian \u200dPresident Vladimir \u2062Putin for the conflict, which angered Zelensky. As the argument escalated, Vice President JD Vance challenged Zelensky, leading Trump to \u2062proclaim that\u200d Zelensky &#8220;doesn&#8217;t have the cards&#8221; \u200din the negotiation.<\/p>\n<p>Former advisors \u200dand critics weighed\u200d in\u200d on the aftermath, suggesting that\u2064 Trump\u2019s behavior may have benefited Putin and detracted \u2063from American interests. Despite the tensions, trump later displayed a more respectful tone towards Zelensky\u2064 in subsequent \u200bdiscussions, acknowledging the bravery of the Ukrainian people amidst the ongoing conflict. <\/p>\n<p>This meeting marked a \u200bcomplex and tumultuous chapter in \u200cU.S.-Ukraine relations, reflecting the historical challenges since their initial interactions dating back to Trump&#8217;s impeachment in 2019.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump cuts short Zelensky&rsquo;s White House visit after heated Oval Office meeting: &lsquo;You don&rsquo;t have the cards&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2020105\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s working visit with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ukrainian<\/a> President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> quickly became heated, endangering the Trump administration&rsquo;s progress on negotiating a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-lambastes-zelensky-during-white-house-visit-you-dont-have-the-cards-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump lambastes Zelensky during ...: \u2018You don\u2019t have the cards\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">precursory rare earth minerals agreement<\/a> and an end to the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The palpable tension, including the president&rsquo;s yelling, played out before reporters brought into Trump&rsquo;s office before their bilateral meeting, lunch, and resulted in the cancellation of the leaders&rsquo; scheduled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ioc-president-will-not-add-fuel-to-summer-olympics-cancellation-rumors\/\" title=\"IOC ... will \u2018not add fuel\u2019 to Summer Olympics cancellation rumors\">joint press conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Trump said in a statement following the meeting. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Oval Office meeting, which at one point saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelensky of being &ldquo;disrespectful&rdquo; to the United States, was an unprecedented moment. Ukraine&rsquo;s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, was in the Oval and had her head in her hands throughout the argument.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, at least, joked that the heated exchange made for &ldquo;great television.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The meeting itself started amicably, though the president did slight Zelensky for wearing a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">long-sleeved henley t-shirt<\/a> upon his arrival, joking &ldquo;he&rsquo;s all dressed up&rdquo; to reporters.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky opened by showing photographs from the war as a reminder of Russia&rsquo;s aggression and the toll it has had on his people. He also brought Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk and his championship belt.<\/p>\n<p>Trump then spoke about his legacy if he could negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope I&rsquo;m going to be remembered as a peacemaker,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m doing this to save lives &mdash; more than anything else.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But even while seated next to Zelensky, Trump was hesitant to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion and defended his own public comments regarding Putin in recent days.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You want me to say really terrible things about Putin and then say, &lsquo;Hi, Vladimir. How are we doing on the deal?&rsquo; It doesn&rsquo;t work that way,&rdquo; the president told reporters in the Oval Office. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not aligned with anybody. I&rsquo;m aligned with the United States of America and for the good of the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Tensions fully boiled over when Vance accused Zelensky of not saying &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; to the president, to which Zelensky challenged the vice president to visit Ukraine personally.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You went to Pennsylvania to campaign for the opposition,&rdquo; the vice president continued, referencing a September visit the Ukrainian president made to the 2024 battleground with former Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;re gambling with WWIII,&rdquo; Trump proceeded to chime in after Zelensky attempted to counter Vance&rsquo;s critiques. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to be more thankful because, let me tell you, you don&rsquo;t have the cards.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was supposed to be over quickly, and here we are three years later,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You have to be very proud, but now we want to get it over with. It&rsquo;s enough.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump received criticism from both sides of the aisle for his outburts.<\/p>\n<p>Former Bush administration advisor Karl Rove said on Fox News that &ldquo;the only winner out of today is Vladimir Putin.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a mistake to have it broadcast. It was a mistake for Zelensky to get his dander up. It was a mistake for the president and vice president to be so public in their comments,&rdquo; he continued.<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Bates, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-new-trump-nazi-lie\/\" title=\"The Latest False Claim by Trump\">senior deputy press secretary<\/a> under former President Joe Biden, told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that Trump is catering to Putin&rsquo;s wishes, at the detriment of the American people.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;President Zelenskyy is fighting for America&rsquo;s national security interests and values a hell of a lot better than Donald Trump is. Donald Trump has yet to meet an anti-American dictator who couldn&rsquo;t exploit his ego and daddy issues to get the better of him, then leave our country worse off,&rdquo; he said in a statement. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why this administration&rsquo;s record &ndash; including fueling the very inflation Trump promised to lower &ndash; has been one massive giveaway to China and Russia at the expense of the American people. Rewarding an illegal war of aggression would invite more wars of aggression, making us less safe and dragging the economy Trump&rsquo;s already worsening down even more.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky&rsquo;s visit comes after a roller coaster in relations between him and Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The pair&rsquo;s relationship dates back to 2019 and the phone call that precipitated Trump&rsquo;s first impeachment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the Oval Office before his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump acknowledged his relationship with Zelensky has been &ldquo;testy&rdquo; at times.<\/p>\n<p>In recent weeks, the relationship eroded further. Zelensky was resistant to the U.S. terms of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-previews-zelensky-visit-on-pending-deal-for-ukraines-minerals-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Trump previews Zelensky ... on pending deal for ...&#039;s minerals - Washington Examiner\">rare earth minerals deal<\/a> despite the Ukrainian president initially proposing it. The first drafts of an agreement, though, included U.S. demands for $500 billion, more than what the U.S. has provided Ukraine. Trump has said repeatedly that the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $350 billion in aid, but the number is closer to half of that.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has also said Ukraine and former President Joe Biden were responsible for the war, regardless of Russia being the aggressor. Trump&rsquo;s allegations prompted Zelensky to describe the president as living in a &ldquo;disinformation&rdquo; space, with Trump responding that Zelensky is a &ldquo;dictator&rdquo; because Ukraine has suspended elections, an emergency power permitted under the country&rsquo;s constitution.<\/p>\n<p>But as Zelensky has warmed to the deal, even without traditional security guarantees, so, too, has his relationship with Trump, until Friday&rsquo;s public lashing.<\/p>\n<p>Beside Starmer in the Oval Office and then in the East Room for the pair&rsquo;s joint press conference, Trump was pushed to defend his description of Zelensky as a &ldquo;dictator.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Did I say that? I can&rsquo;t believe I said that,&rdquo; Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>Then, during the press conference, Trump was asked whether he owed Zelensky an apology for using the descriptor. In reaction, the president adopted a more deferential tone.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have a lot of respect for him,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve given them a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you figure it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2020105\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2020105\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump abruptly ends Zelensky&#8217;s White House visit after tense meeting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3007,"featured_media":2407950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/trump-zelensky.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[35056,3634,32127,8630],"class_list":["post-2407949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-oval-office","tag-trump","tag-white-house","tag-zelensky"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/trump-zelensky.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3007"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2407949"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2407953,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407949\/revisions\/2407953"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2407950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2407949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2407949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2407949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}