Several political commentators and Politicians have offered their opinions that the hostile Oval Office meeting, Friday Feb 28th, between Vladimir Zelenski and Donald Trump was a planned confrontation. They may have concluded such for one very good reason…it absolutely was.
The “heated” part of the conversation lasted less than 5 minutes and did not begin until JD Vance opened a response with the words “with all due respect” and then continued with an aggressive attack on Zelenski.
Vance referenced Ukraine’s problems including “forcing” men into the military. He accused Zelenski of propaganda tours, taking political sides during the last election, and generally being disrespectful and unappreciative. He loudly (yes loudly) asked Zelenski how many times in that meeting had he thanked (presumably Trump and himself) for American support. Trump quickly cut off Zelenski’s response.
During Vance’s attack Trump fell into his deadpan facial expression, as you might see on a person being massaged, allowing Vance to continue unchecked. I cannot recall when a Vice President injected his opinion in such a public broadcast Oval Office meeting. The whole point of such meetings is to allow the principals to address the Press, not to advance policy, and for everyone else to keep their mouths shut. Vance had a green light before they ever stepped into that office.
As Zelenski tried to answer Vance and suggested that the deception Putin places on diplomacy will be felt in the United States, Trump took over demonstrating his interpretation of Bully-In-Chief. Although Trump’s language was typical Trump; disjointed, inaccurate, and confusing off the cuff remarks, his intent was solid.
He went on how badly Putin had been treated during Trump’s first election. How Putin (the poor boy) had managed to survive the accusations of Russia’s involvement in that 2016 election, (which Trump likes to advance in the face of reality as often as he does his losing in 2020).
Trump then went on a harangue about “unintelligent” Joe Biden and, of all people, Hunter Biden as some sort of mastermind to who knows what, referring to Hunter Biden’s bathroom and bedroom. Then he injected Hillary Clinton and Adam Schiff into his monologue. Folks, this was crazy town stuff, which Lindsey Graham would later say he “couldn’t have been more proud of”.
The irony is that Trump accused Zelenski of talking too much.
This was all planned. The final goal on the part of Trump, his Administration and many Republicans in Congress is to allow Putin to position himself to overthrow Democracy in Ukraine and install a favored Autocracy as existed prior to 2014. The US would become some kind of quasi-ally with Russia to share in raping natural resources from the Country.
The first step is to “end” the war with no consequences for Russia, parts of Ukraine to be ceded to Russia, and Putin to proclaim the entire invasion was justified. Zelenski and those in Ukraine who have been fighting for Democratic rule since 2014 are essentially in the way.
Trump in his early remarks at this meeting complained that Zelenski “hates” Putin too much. His obvious conclusion is that Zelenski has to start liking (?) Putin in order to get the Russian dictator to end his invasion, perhaps the same as Trump does?
The three year conflict in Ukraine has been a proxy war for Western Democracies, including the US. It is Democracy verses Autocracy. Trump and Vance berated Zelenski to convince the American public that Zelenski, on behalf of the Ukrainian people, was not thankful enough. The US has provided military equipment to Ukraine valued at about $180 billion. The Ukrainians have given the lives of upwards of 70,000 men, women, and children. Who should be thanking who?
The bigger question is can the US replace Trump, Vance, and the feckless Republican Congressmen before the 90 year post-WWII order is completely destroyed?