'I Want Somebody That's Going to Make Peace': Trump to Reporters As He Leaves White House

We saw a stunning turn of events Friday afternoon during a press conference in the Oval Office involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance (and other cabinet officials), where a planned minerals deal fell apart after Zelensky decided to challenge the president and vice president in front of the media. Following their fiery exchange, Trump essentially sent Zelensky packing despite reports that Zelensky and his team begged to stay and work things out.

After Zelensky left, both he and Trump put out statements on social media, as did numerous other officials and dignitaries.

BREAKING: After Fiery Oval Office Exchange, Trump Sends Zelensky Packing

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Trump was slated to leave the White House to head to Mar-a-Lago late Friday afternoon. On his way out, he stopped to address reporters. He delivered some brief remarks to the assembled press:

We had some big news this week, as you know, because Apple is investing $500 billion — think of that — and…it’s going to be a tremendous investment…the biggest investment anybody’s ever made in the country at one time. But they’re going to be investing a lot of money — $500 billion.
We have many other companies have just announced they’re coming in. A lot of it’s because of how we’re doing — we’ve done a great turnaround in a little more than 30 days — but the country’s really doing well, really doing well. We’re respected again all over the world — if you look, we had the Japanese prime minister, we had the prime minister yesterday of UK, as you know, we had the prime minister of India, we have another 20 prime ministers and presidents wanting to come. And a…very good, very good feeling. I think our country’s really turned around.
We had a meeting today, as you know, with President Zelensky, and I would say it didn’t work out exactly great from his standpoint — I think he very much overplayed his hand. We’re looking for peace. We’re not looking for somebody that’s going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened, and that’s what I saw happening. I’m looking for peace. We’re not looking to go into a 10-year war and play games. We want peace. And it was just my impression that if we do that, if we sign up, he’s looking for something that I’m not looking for — he’s looking to go on and fight, fight, fight. We’re looking to end the death — 2,000 people died this week, soldiers — more than that. But 2,000, approximately, people died this week — young Ukrainians and Russians. And somebody would say, “Why do you care about Ukraine and Russian soldiers?” I care about them — I care about everybody. And we’re not doing that.
Now, if we don’t do anything, he’s going to have to make peace, but he’s dealing with a very weak set of cards. If we sign, he’s dealing with a very strong set of cards, and then he doesn’t want to make peace. So, that’s where we are — it’s very simple. I’m not looking to get into anything protracted. I want immediate peace. President Putin is going to want to make, and he wants to make — he wants to end it. And you saw what I saw today — this is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting, and we’re not doing that — not for this country.
So, we’re setting a lot of records — economically, we’re setting records, and I think every way we’re setting records. One of the best is the right track/wrong track — you saw that. We’re on the right track for the first time in over 27 years. People are impressed with that. The other thing is the feeling about our country. The feeling is great — it’s up 48 percent on feeling on business. And that’s the record…there’s never been a record where we’ve ever gone up that much in such a short period of time. So, we’re doing really well, and I guess some of you are coming with us, and if you are, I hope you’re going to have a good flight.

Following his remarks, Trump was asked several questions by the assembled reporters. Most of the reporters' questions were difficult to hear, but Trump's responses are included below:

Reporter Question: What does Zelensky need to do to keep (?) talking?
Trump: He’s gotta say, “I want to make peace.” He doesn’t have to stand there and say about “Putin this, Putin that” — all negative things. He’s got to say, “I want to make peace. I don’t want to fight a war any longer.” People are dying. He doesn’t have the cards, just so you understand, okay?
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible] Zelensky?
Trump: I don’t have to tell you that. I think you know the answer to that.
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible]
Trump: Look, I don’t trust or distrust anybody. I just want to get a deal done. And if a deal happens, good. But you can’t embolden somebody that does not have the cards, and all of a sudden, that person says, “Oh, well now I can keep fighting.” We’re not going to keep fighting. We’re going to get the war done or let them go and see what happens. Let them fight it out.
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible]
Trump: I want anybody that’s going to make peace. If he’s capable of making peace, which he may or may not be, but I want somebody that’s going to make peace. Again, he doesn’t have the cards. When we sign up, he’s got all of the cards. That doesn’t mean he can fight. He’s got to stop the fighting, stop the death. He’s losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers. It’s time to stop the death.
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible]
Trump: Well, he says he wants it now, or he wants to come back right now, but I can’t do that.
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible]
Trump: They should have an immediate ceasefire — that was the other thing: He didn’t want to do about ceasefire. A ceasefire could take place immediately — a contract if you want to end the war. You sign up an agreement. That’s going to take a period of time — it takes time. I want it to end immediately. And I think if you had a ceasefire, it would be a ceasefire — a real one that would end it. But he doesn’t want to do that? That’s fine…I want it to end immediately. I want a ceasefire now. He says, “Oh, I don’t want a ceasefire.” Well all of a sudden, he’s a bigshot because he has the U.S. on his side. Either we’re going to end it, or let him fight it out, and if he fights it out, it’s not going to be pretty because without us, he doesn’t win.
Reporter Question: [Unintelligible]
Trump: It doesn’t matter…I’m just telling you. You saw what I saw today — that was not a man that wanted to make peace. And I’m only interested if he wants to end the bloodshed.