In case you missed it last night, the United States stopped military aid to Ukraine. This is what happens in Trump world when you don’t kiss the president’s ring. More people will die this week in Ukraine because Trump believes Ukraine president Volodomyr Zelenskyy has not said “thank you” enough. According to Trump, Zelenskyy may get his aid back if he is “more appreciative.”
Steve Hayes of The Dispatch says Zelenskyy never had a chance. Here is a taste:
When Volodomyr Zelensky arrived at the White House for his high-stakes meeting Friday, Donald Trump offered a sarcastic welcome. “How are you? You’re all dressed up today,” Trump said. “How are you, Mr. President?” Zelensky responded. Trump turned to the cameras. “He’s all dressed up today,” he said, with a wry smile, before leading Zelensky into the Oval Office.
Nineteen minutes into the meeting, after mostly pleasant statements from the two leaders, Brian Glenn, a reporter with the Trump-boosting Real America’s Voice cable network, who is also Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s boyfriend, attacked Zelensky for his attire.
“Why don’t you wear a suit?” Glenn asked. “You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit.”
Vice President J.D. Vance, sitting a few feet from Zelensky, laughed at the question and smiled broadly as Glenn continued to berate the Ukrainian leader. “Do you own a suit?” he continued. “A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office.”
After the meeting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNBC’s Eamon Javers that White House officials were frustrated with Zelensky because of his tone, his body language and, yes, his attire. When Javers asked Leavitt why it was okay for Elon Musk to appear in the Oval in a T-shirt and baseball cap, she said Musk is not the leader of a sovereign nation.
Volodomyr Zelensky never had a chance.
A White House offended by his clothing is a White House looking to be offended. (Zelensky, who has consistently worn military garb at meetings with world leaders and even while addressing the United Nations over the past three years, says he dresses the way he does in solidarity with the soldiers fighting on behalf of his country.)
Shortly after Vance laughed along at the dressing down of Zelensky, the vice president indignantly accused the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude. “Have you said thank you once in this entire meeting?” In fact, Zelensky hadn’t said thank you once—he’d said it three times. But Vance missed these expressions of gratitude because he wasn’t expecting to hear them. It was a classic case of selective perception and motivated reasoning—consuming information in a way that aligns with your preconceptions—and it arose again and again throughout the meeting.
Read the entire piece here.
