The Art of Ambushing a Leader

Trump and Vance Show They Don’t Care About Alliances

There are stories about people’s characters and how they behave behind the scenes. On Friday, we got to witness three people’s characters in a Shakespearian melodrama for ourselves.

On Friday, I saw two world leaders bully another leader in front of the world to see.

If it wasn’t planned, it couldn’t have gone any better for the bullies.

I saw a visiting president outmanned and out-gunned in the Oval Office. Outmanned because it was two against one, but out-gunned because he was up against two native speakers of English, the lingua franca of this sword fight.

I saw a visiting president try to regain his footing while two so-called hosts shamelessly turned the screws on him even more.

There is a split second delay in understanding a foreign language compared to your native language. Zelensky was bombarded with two attackers at once, and when he tried to respond, he was misunderstood or simply cut off.

Take, for example, Zelensky’s comment about the US benefitting from having a “nice ocean” but warning about trouble from currents across the Atlantic. Zelensky began to say, “God bless you” before Trump callously interrupted him, “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”

This alone should have ended the news conference, but Zelensky, in his deference and humility, stayed, not understanding that he was in an ambush.

The language barrier was obvious. Zelensky referred to Vance talking “loudly” when he meant it metaphorically. He said his country has been “alone,” meaning fighting alone. Trump was thinking about dollars.

At one point, Trump angrily repeated, “you don’t have the cards,” to which Zelensky responded, “We’re not playing cards.” I don’t know if Zelensky understood the figure of speech.

I witnessed a culture clash. Zelensky was trying to pay the US a compliment, but Trump couldn’t hear it.

Zelensky wanted security guarantees. Trump wanted a mineral deal.

Zelensky wants Russia wholly out of Ukraine. For Trump, everything is on the table.

For Zelensky, Ukraine is his land and his people. For Trump, it’s just another business deal.

Zelensky expressed gratitude, but Trump and Vance wanted him to kiss the Godfather’s ring.

Trump couldn’t fathom how people brutally oppressed by the Soviet Union and ruthlessly bombed the last three years could harbor hatred. How lucky for him.

Zelensky tried to explain why Putin can’t be trusted. Trump, for some reason, equated American businesses interests in Ukraine as a security guarantee, which it’s not, as there were American businesses in Ukraine before the invasion that Russia simply rolled over.

Pro-Trump pundits blamed Zelensky for not reading the room and understanding Trump’s psychology. I’d like to see how well Trump would “read a room” in a foreign country, in front of cameras and attacked in a foreign language.

Zelensky’s focus the last three years has been on his country’s survival. I don’t think he has the bandwidth to understand Trump’s “psychology.” That would be a tall order for anyone.

Trump and Vance wanted Zelensky to be deferential to the US. They didn’t understand that flying across an ocean to sign a rare earth minerals deal was being differential. Ukrainians have deep ties to their land, and sharing it with corporate interests doesn’t come easily.

I saw Vance, who has never visited Ukraine, tell its president he “watched and seen the stories” and accuse Zelensky of “propaganda,” then tell the president he is “wrong.” What an abysmal thing to say to a world leader and in front of cameras.

This wasn’t demonstrating American leadership. This was badgering an ally.

Zelensky tried to connect with Trump and Vance on a human level. Not understanding this, Vance threw down the gauntlet. Tell us thank you. Perhaps he hasn’t heard what Zelensky said because he wasn’t listening.

This wasn’t hospitality. This was bullying.

No one has a greater stake for his country’s survival and lasting peace than Zelensky. He knows that and his country knows that. He hasn’t worn a suit in three years out of humility and solidarity with the men and women on the front lines. He is one of the most humble men I have seen on the world stage, constantly thanking his allies, and J.D. Vance and Donald Trump just ate him for lunch.

And then, a bombshell. After accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the Oval Office, they told him to get out.

It was the most abysmal reception I have ever seen by world leaders. No one deserves to be treated this way.

If you turn off the sound, you can see the posturing- Trump pointing and dominating, Vance looking at Zelensky with disdain, Zelensky crossing his arms in defense and trying to get a word in.

Every American should be embarrassed by yesterday’s treatment of a foreign leader. No one should be humiliated or cowered into submission, especially a country bravely fighting for its freedom.

In barely over 30 days, Trump and Vance showed that America cannot be relied on by its allies, which plays marvelously into the hands of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. It will have repercussions we don’t yet feel, but if karma or Zelensky’s prediction is any indicator, we will feel.