Zelensky Attempts Oval Office Grandstanding; Finds Out Trump and Vance Don't Play That Game

UPDATED 2:15 PM EST

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky showed up to the White House on Friday in casual clothing and proceeded to disrespect the United States during a meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, and quickly found out that his usual methods don't play well with actual leaders.

Both Trump and Vance put Zelensky in his place, reminding him that without American assistance he wouldn't even have a country right now. Zelensky was allegedly in Washington, D.C. to sign a rare earth minerals deal, but was reportedly kicked out of the White House after the extreme level of disrespect shown.

In the Oval Office meeting, Trump pointed out that Zelensky's blind hatred of Vladimir Putin was going to prevent peace after Zelensky accused Trump of siding with Putin. Trump fired back that he stands with America and with the world. After that exchange, the following occurred:

.@VP: "Do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"@POTUS: "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards ... You're… pic.twitter.com/iTYyAmfuCJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025

Here's a partial transcript.

VANCE: "I'm talking about the kind of diplomacy that's going to end the destruction of your country... Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. 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."

ZELENSKY: "Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?"

VANCE: "I've actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you've had problems bringing people into your military? And do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"

ZELENSKY: "First of all, during the war, everybody has problems. Even you. But you have nice ocean and don't feel now. but you will feel it in the future. God bless, you won't have war."

What kind of passive-aggressive bunk is that? "You have nice ocean and don't feel now." We've felt literally billions of consequences from this war, Zelensky.

Trump then intervened:

"Don't tell us what we going to feel. We trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we going to feel, because you in no position to dictate that. Remember this. You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. We're gonna feel very good. We're gonna feel very good and very strong. You're right now not in a very good position. You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position, which he happens to be right about."

Zelensky, with zero respect, kept interrupting. Trump, visibly angry, shouted at Zelensky:

"You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards. Right now, you're playing cards. You're playing cards. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country."

Vance then asked Zelensky:

Have you said thank you once? You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October. Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country.

Eventually, the scheduled press conference between the two was canceled and Zelensky left the White House, as Susie covered.

NEW STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP ON HIS MEETING WITH ZELENSKY: pic.twitter.com/Ge3KmodYMV
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) February 28, 2025