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Yesterday, our president, invited the press to the oval office to publicly demean Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of brave Ukraine.
Judging by what transpired that must have been the plan.
But the sad spectacle backfired, for it showed Trump and his vice president as bullies.
Neither is a world leader.
Getting elected to those high positions does not automatically make you a world leader.
The position gives you the opportunity to become one, but your judgment and actions during your tenure is what makes you a world leader.
Throughout the meeting, Trump and JD Vance kept talking over Zelensky in an attempt to coerce him into submission.
Zelensky did not yield, keeping his composure and dignity.
‘You have not been thankful enough’ the president repeated often. ‘You are disrespectful,’ the vicepresident added, scolding Zelensky, desperate to ingratiate himself with Trump.
Trump could not shut up.
He kept raising his voice, upset that Zelensky didn’t agree with him.
‘You don’t have the cards,’ Trump pressed further, meaning that the Ukrainian was in an inferior position to Putin for planned negotiations to end the war.
Trump’s tone was angry and contemptuous.
‘What would you do if we pulled out?’ Trump challenged Zelensky.
‘How long would you last? Two — three weeks?’
Implicit was the warning, ‘you need me! So, kneel and beg, right now, or Ukraine will cease to exist!’
‘I wanted the American people to…
