‘Trump, Vance Doing Putin’s Dirty Work’: Democrats Slam US President Over His Fiery Spat With Zelenskyy- wna24

Washington DC: In the wake of an intense and highly publicised exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Democrats launched a fierce attack, accusing Trump and JD Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work” and undermining the US position on Ukraine.

The confrontation, which occurred on Friday, saw Trump harshly confronting Zelenskyy in front of the media, telling the Ukrainian leader that he was “gambling with the lives of millions of people and World War 3.”

In the blunt exchange, Trump told Zelenskyy that he was “losing the war” and accused him of being disrespectful toward the United States by not being ready for a ceasefire.

Also Read | Make A Deal or US Is Out: Trump-Zelenskyy-Vance In Full Blown Public Spat, White House Shares Full Video

Trump’s words triggered an outpouring of condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, many of whom voiced concerns about the implications for US foreign policy and global leadership.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrats’ leader in the chamber in a post on X said, “Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy.”

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, did not hold back his criticism of the meeting. He said, “Today’s White House meeting with the President of Ukraine was appalling and will only serve to further embolden Vladimir Putin , a brutal dictator. The United States must not reward Russian aggression and continue to appease Putin,” Jeffries said, stressing on the importance of supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian invasion.

Furthermore, Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran, said, “Attacking our democratic partner in service of an autocratic dictator. Trump is a national disgrace.”

Representative Ted Lieu, a long-serving member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed the same sentiment. Lieu said, “Nobody is celebrating President Trump and Vice President Vance’s embarrassing behavior in the Oval Office more than Vladimir Putin. Today was a distressing moment for those of us who value democracy and America’s role as a force for good.”

One of the most vocal critics of Trump on foreign policy, Senator Chris Murphy, condemned the meeting in stark terms, saying, “What just happened in the Oval Office was a planned ambush, designed to help a brutal Russian dictator and hurt America’s security. Trump has become Putin’s lapdog, and America’s global power is hemorrhaging as America sides with dictators over democracy. What an embarrassment.”

Also read | Trump Packs Off Zelenskyy Back To Ukraine: COME BACK WHEN YOU’RE READY FOR PEACE

As the dramatic spat unfolded when Trump openly lectured Zelenskyy about the state of the war in Ukraine. “…Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel. I’m not telling you because you’re in no position to dictate that. Remember this. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re gonna feel. We’re gonna feel very good. We’re gonna feel very good and very strong,” he said.

Trump further made his position clear in a post on Truth Social, stating that Zelenskyy was not ready for peace while benefiting from US involvement in the war. Zelenskyy disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office and he can come back when he is ready for peace, he added.

The White House meeting, which was intended to show US support for Ukraine, has instead fueled a growing sense of concern within the Democratic Party. Lawmakers worry that Trump’s increasingly isolationist approach to foreign policy is eroding US leadership in the international arena and undermining the fight for democracy in Ukraine.

The division over Ukraine policy appears to have widened further, leaving many wondering where the US stands in its support for global democracy in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.