Trump Kicks Zelensky Out of White House After Heated Exchange
WORLD
In a stunning diplomatic fallout, President Donald Trump expelled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from the White House following a tense Oval Office meeting that quickly spiraled into a heated confrontation.
The meeting, originally scheduled to discuss U.S.-Ukraine cooperation on mineral extraction, turned sour when Zelensky criticized Trump's recent interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vice President JD Vance pushed back against Zelensky’s remarks, and the exchange escalated until Trump accused Zelensky of being disrespectful to the United States.
The president abruptly ended the meeting and ordered Zelensky to leave the White House.
A scheduled press conference was canceled, and Zelensky left without signing the anticipated agreement. Following the clash, Trump stated, "President Zelensky disrespected the United States, and I won’t tolerate that. He is not ready for peace if it means America stops footing the bill for his war."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly backed Trump’s decision.
The dramatic expulsion has left uncertainty surrounding U.S. support for Ukraine and the future of diplomatic relations.
Despite the fallout, Zelensky took to social media, writing, "Thank you, America, President Trump, Congress, and all Americans who support Ukraine. We continue our pursuit of a just and lasting peace."