Words the US President Donald Trump reportedly said about Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their tumultuous Oval Office meeting have reportedly been revealed after being picked up by a hot mic.
On February 28, President Zelenskyy, 47, attended a meeting with Trump, 78, at the White House, with plans to take part in a joint press conference and sign a rare earth minerals deal.
The pair exchanged heated words in Washington, with the 47th POTUS accusing the politician of ‘gambling with World War III’ and of not having the ‘cards’ to continue its fight with Russia.
It appeared Trump also winked at a journalist who questioned the Ukrainian leader on why he didn’t wear a suit to their meeting.
Zelenskyy proceeded to leave the US capital early after the press conference was cancelled, heading to the UK to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of an international security summit.
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Previously, it was debated whether Zelenskyy exited the White House on his own merit, or whether he was ordered to leave.
The latter appears to be correct, if reports of a hot mic catching President Trump’s orders can be believed.
The Daily Mail claims that The Apprentice mogul instructed his aides to take Zelenskyy from the Oval Office to a room down the hall called the Roosevelt room.
It was there that he and his team were allegedly informed that Trump wanted them off the premises.
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Speaking to an aide as press left the room, Trump said: “You’re right, maybe we should [inaudible]. Let’s have a little something...
“Would you bring them to the Roosevelt Room?”
In the wake of the fiery meeting, Zelenskyy has thanked the US and Trump for their ongoing support via social media.
The message came after Vice President JD Vance, 40, criticised Zelenskyy for ‘not saying thank you’ during the heated exchange.
“Do you think it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America that's trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance quelled.
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“Have you said thank you once? During this entire meeting?”
After defending himself, Zelenskyy took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians.
“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
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Trump, who has also received a letter from Zelenskyy making remarks in a similar vein to that of his social media post, has said he ‘appreciated’ the Ukrainian Prime Minister reaching out to him.
He also claimed there had been ‘serious discussions’ with Russia and that he’d received ‘strong signals that they are ready for peace’.
It was not revealed when these alleged talks had taken place, nor whether Trump himself had been involved in them.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, World News, Russia, JD Vance
Ella Scott