Trump, Vance Clash With Zelensky During White House Meeting

It's really hard to think how this could've possibly gone worse. The whole thing started with Zelensky's offhand suggestion of trading Ukrainian minerals for US aid which backfired catastrophically. Trump, ever the opportunist, seized on the proposal like a shark scenting blood. He initially framed it as Ukraine having to hand over minerals for future support, which he quickly turned into a demand for repayment of the $300 billion already spent, retroactively recasting aid as a loan.
By floating the minerals idea, Zelensky handed Trump a rhetorical weapon that let Trump box Ukraine into a lose-lose scenario of either surrendering resources or admitting to owing an unpayable debt. Zelensky got accustomed to Biden’s blank-check diplomacy, and completely misread the room here. Now, Trump has the perfect excuse to cut Ukraine loose. He will say that Zelensky lied about his willingness to make a deal, that he doesn't appreciate US support, and that he was belligerent. The whole thing is an absolute debacle for Ukraine.
- The US according to Powell can't maintain this level of debt. Interest rates are high because nobody wants to buy US bonds, and you've got talk of BRICS ending trading oil in USD altogether. Its not like its just borrowed and the US has no repercussions, this is all future austerity.
  
  If the status of the dollar collapses a reserve currency then the US will absolutely be in trouble. I think it's going to be a little while yet before that happens, but I do agree we're starting to see some initial signs of the process starting.

I have even more admiration for Zelenskyy after that. He kept his cool through their childish bullying, while respectfully maintaining his stance. His commitment to his people over his own ego made him the only adult in the Oval Office today.
This was humiliating for Americans. I would’ve been less embarrassed had JD started fucking the Oval Office furniture. Every member of Congress that stands behind this is complicit.
- You shouldn't treat politics as parasocial celebrity drama
  
  You mean when Trump said it “would make great television?”
- His commitment to his people
  Commitment to.. Continuing treating country as a prison and people as slaves who can be kidnapped off the streets and then be dent to death as a cannon fodder? I hope you will one day have a dictator with similar commitment to you.
  
  I have less respect than ever for anyone in that room.
  
  You’re right, he should just give everything to the Russian oligarchy, right?
  Just so you know, no one believes you. You’re only fooling yourself.
  
  I am opposed to drafting just as much as any other but considering the country is under a war to essentially keep existing, there should not be any reason for those elegible to fight to run.
  What is the option against an enemy that does not see this people as such, is known for butchering people in taken areas and that has made clear nothing besides total capitulation will suffice? Hope they will get bored and go away?
  
  I keep seeing this complete lie of "kidnapping people" on Xitter et al. They are arresting draft doders just like the US did during their war on Vietnam. It's not like they are putting people in black vans to Guantanamo.

It was like a scripted show for everyone except Zelensky. Zelensky was railroaded and talked over. Belittled. This was an embarrassment for the US and humanity as a whole. It shouldnt have been televised. What a sad shit show.
- Yeah I feel really bad for the guy.

So when trump says Ukraine has to make concessions to achieve peace... The first thing that comes to mind is that the allies did the same thing when the Nazis started invading their neighbors in the 1930s. Peace at any cost. It showed that all they had to do was threaten war to get what they wanted. In the end, the cost to stop them was WW2.
My point is that the aggressor must pay a steep cost and still not get what they want.
- I am once again begging liberals to learn any history other than WW2
  
  I once again beg libs to actually learn about ww2.
- You're confused as to which side is the aggressor in this war.

What a weird moment of pure media spectacle by two TV-actor-cum-presidents.

I hate being american right now
- You must not been paying attention your whole life then
- well this is how we feel about americans in the rest of the world, for a lot of decades now.

- Majority of people who voted. That is not the same as the majority of eligible voters nor is it anywhere near same as the majority of Americans.
  Also, if it were a Dem Pres, we'd have more or less the same outcome just less crass and with more political theater/obfuscation.
- @tazzy@lemm.ee
  @NightOwl@lemmy.ca the "majority" actually voted for someone else or chose not to vote. Only ~30% support this circus.
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_United_States_presidential_elections
- What do you think life will be like for the rest of the world if USA, China and maybe Russia are all allies?

Dementia Trump seem to think he is still in the apprentice, you don't get to fire other sovereign nations presidents though.
- Of course the burgerking can fire his lackey

Ending the war is good for all of you/us, I promise. Team Russophibia/Ukraine without US on board will end up worse than when US was setting you up on the team. At any rate, making better friends than Ukraine helps dealing with US.

"Time to end the war 1!!1!"
Said by brain dead comments that don't inlcude what that means.
- I know what continuing the war means: more Ukrainian casualties and more Ukrainian territory lost.
  
  Trump surrendered to Russia on Ukraine's behalf, that's not the same as "ending the war".
  
  Exactly. I see i was downvoted, but my intent was that stopping the war now means stopping the war on Russias terms, which is not right.