This is the refreshing part about Trump- there is no difference between cameras rolling or not. It's a unique insight into how foreign policy works

Unfortunate exchange. But Trump is not wrong and he didn't create this mess. And for those who think this is a bad look for US relations with our allies, what kind of ally uses another as a pawn in a proxy war, sucks them into a conflict that they cannot win, resulting in that country's total destruction? Let the Europeans perpetuate the war if that is what they want. Further bloodshed will be on their heads. We've allowed the neocons to dictate foreign policy for decades now and the results have been an unmitigated disaster for our reputation, our unsustainable debt and for the countries involved.

The UK provides his security?

Trump did not wanted to meet him, now he kicked him out.

Macron must be ecstatic now. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/kT9SFbMogY

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) February 28, 2025

A blogger wrote: "I think Trump and Vance wanted this. They stuck together, and a V.P. would never go hard publicly like that live without a plan. Now Trump has more trust from Putin. Europe knows that they cannot pretend any more. They have to defend Ukraine or not. The USA is not their free world cop any more. The people of Ukraine will all see this, tensions will boil over as they are hit with reality, and some will come to understand their now unelected leader wouldn't take peace and in doing so condemned them to a dependence on a weak Europe."

Maybe Norway’s army friendship dance can warm Trump’s heart? pic.twitter.com/SRqqmxeDkA

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) February 28, 2025

Zippergate said:

---

Unfortunate exchange. But Trump is not wrong and he didn't create this mess. And for those who think this is a bad look for US relations with our allies, what kind of ally uses another as a pawn in a proxy war, sucks them into a conflict that they cannot win, resulting in that country's total destruction? Let the Europeans perpetuate the war if that is what they want. Further bloodshed will be on their heads. We've allowed the neocons to dictate foreign policy for decades now and the results have been an unmitigated disaster for our reputation, our unsustainable debt and for the countries involved.

---

Yes but.....

I think the Trumpheads need to grapple with the question of whether AMERICA better off, worse off, the same with likely a nuclear armed Tawain, probably a nuclear armed Germany, Perhaps a nuclear armed Turkey and Poland? Probably even more pointed, is it safer as they TRANSITION to that state - given how that will be responded to by their neighbors with stronger conventional forces?

That is really the world that America's retreat from providing security guarantees is moving toward.

Now I will agree with you that there is something deeply immoral about the proxy war. But I think a realistic view of a post-Ukrainian collapse is not one which serves America's security interests...

Oh year - Probably South Korea and Japan probably need to develop their own deterrent as well.

At the end, notice Zelensky's (nose) snort?

ADMIN POST.

Legacy media: "What if Russia breaks the ceasefire"?

Trump: "What if anything? ...What if a bomb drops on your head right now"? 💀 pic.twitter.com/VkiV3vSLEJ

— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) February 28, 2025

Trump's stance on Ukraine is widely backed by the American people pic.twitter.com/DDnAHmQRKT

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 28, 2025

My theory is that Musk and Vance are setting Trump up to reveal how unhinged and detached from reality he is so that a 25th Amendment removal will be a no brainer cake walk:

1. The bizarre AI Gaza video;
2. Trump losing his sh@it in Zelensky meeting; and
3. The 3rd strike should be a doozy.

The Putinization of America DNyuz


https://dnyuz.com/2025/02/28/the-putinization-of-america/

*One of Trump's designated media stooges asked Zelensky why he didn't wear a suit and wasn't that being disrespectful. Have Trump's media stooges asked that question of Musk? Asking for a friend.

bearister said:

---

My theory is that Musk and Vance are setting Trump up to reveal how unhinged and detached from reality he is so that a 25th Amendment removal will be a no brainer cake walk:

1. The bizarre AI Gaza video;
2. Trump losing his sh@it in Zelensky meeting; and
3. The 3rd strike should be a doozy.

The Putinization of America DNyuz


https://dnyuz.com/2025/02/28/the-putinization-of-america/

---

Hmmm....

The problem with that conspiracy theory is the cabinet. It is really hard for me to see those votes siding with the VP over Trump. I think it will/would take a huge decline from where we are today to get to a majority it isn't really considering.

I think it is more likely that he is in I Don't Give an F mode. This is Trump as Trump. His "briefings" are derived from Fox News ((where the bleep was Tulsi anyway? I don't follow palace headcounting like I used to but feels like NID would be at this meeting....alot more than the VP)

ADMIN POST.

JD Vance: "Do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"

Trump: "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having… pic.twitter.com/xEzKX4qs3a

— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) February 28, 2025

Look at Zelenskys nonverbal. His handlers wanted US troops.

UKRAINE: Zelensky was effectively kicked out of the White House. He was invited to sign the minerals deal, but instead he brought new demands including US ground troops. Zelensky is not an honest broker. pic.twitter.com/B1srx0qbAl

— @amuse (@amuse) February 28, 2025

So it turns out that the US government actually can't make other countries do what it wants just because.

movielover said:

---

Trump's stance on Ukraine is widely backed by the American people pic.twitter.com/DDnAHmQRKT

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 28, 2025

---

Those poll questions are very favorably worded towards the Trump position. The reality is more complicated.

New Gallup polling on country favorability:

Ukraine: 63% (including 54% of Republicans)

Russia: 17% (21% of Republicans)

Social media isn’t real life (and I’d also be skeptical of Harvard-Harris polling).https://t.co/Vi7T2pUBNA https://t.co/scFQF1vmwy

— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 28, 2025

Of course people want a settlement to end the war! That doesn't mean that antagonizing friendly countries and cozying up to Russia will be popular.

bearister said:

---

My theory is that Musk and Vance are setting Trump up to reveal how unhinged and detached from reality he is so that a 25th Amendment removal will be a no brainer cake walk:

1. The bizarre AI Gaza video;
2. Trump losing his sh@it in Zelensky meeting; and
3. The 3rd strike should be a doozy.

The Putinization of America DNyuz


https://dnyuz.com/2025/02/28/the-putinization-of-america/

*One of Trump's designated media stooges asked Zelensky why he didn't wear a suit and wasn't that being disrespectful. Have Trump's media stooges asked that question of Musk? Asking for a friend.

---

Absolutely shameful, we are supposed to be practiced and better at statesmanship and peace negotiation. This wasn't even the B team working on behalf of the American people. It was amateur hour and all our allies to notice. The main beneficiary of today will not be Russia, it will be China who will step into the void created by this disaster. The 1920s and 1930s are starting to look familiar.

One of the main drives behind settling the Ukraine war is to focus on China, and to try to peel off Russia from China, taking a page from the Kissinger/Bush Sr. playbook.

Realpolitik aside, you also have to credit Trump and Vance for telling the truth about the real extent of Ukrainian military losses (800,000+ killed), which the previous administration, the MSM and nearly all NATO governments have lied about.

The point is, if you care about Ukrainians, you will take strong measures to end this war.

Really good bipartisan meeting before President Zelensky heads to the White House. We stand with Ukraine.🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/s5NJx0BcKZ

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 28, 2025

Cal88 said:

---

One of the main drives behind settling the Ukraine war is to focus on China, and to try to peel off Russia from China, taking a page from the Kissinger/Bush Sr. playbook.

Realpolitik aside, you also have to credit Trump and Vance for telling the truth about the real extent of Ukrainian military losses (800,000+ killed), which the previous administration, the MSM and nearly all NATO governments have lied about.

The point is, if you care about Ukrainians, you will take strong measures to end this war.

---

1) China/Russia - Yeah - but....that feels so 1972 and was driven a lot by ideological desires to lead the communist world. While they share a border it is in VERY underdeveloped areas that are not core, as far as I know, to their geostrategic ambitions. Indeed, both countries face significant demographic cliffs and so the idea of seeing them engaged in a cold war over Siberia feels 50 years passe.

Rather, both countries want revisionist outcomes in directions OPPOSITE from each other - China in Taiwan (and possibly in SE Asia) and Russia in Eastern Europe. Not sure why their interests would lead them to conflict and especially Russia siding with US in opposing China Pressure in the South China Sea.

2) I am not sure why Trump "speaking truth" matters at all. I mean UKraine clearly knows the extent of its losses. Who is the audience for this?

3) Well yes but..... I think for Ukrainian supporting hawks the belief is that this will just be a pause, that Putin's preferred outcome is the "Belorussian" transformation of the rump Ukrainian state. It will be sad but I am not losing sleep over that. What WILL keep me up at night is the NATO belonging Baltic states. Trump supporters really need to ask (and no, you don't need to say it out loud) as to what Article 5 guarantees mean if Putin threaten there....and if they mean nothing WHEN will they mean something and at that point is your deterrent threat credible?

If you were Zelensky right now, how safe would you feel remaining in this country and then trying to get back to the Ukraine knowing that Trump and Tulsi have your back with regard to security?

That is really the world that America's retreat from providing security guarantees is moving toward.

What? We didn't have a security guarantee with Ukraine. Ukraine was being brought into NATO and that was a redline for Russia. This has nothing to do with defending Japan, Korea, etc. Trump is a bully, as is his America first agenda, but the degree of bullying pales in comparison to that of the neocons who view every country as mere pawns, cannon fodder, to be manipulated, weakened or sacrificed for the sake of US supremacy.

Taiwan is a complicated issue. Biden is the one who kowtowed to China and equivocated about our commitment to defend it.

Zippergate said:

---

That is really the world that America's retreat from providing security guarantees is moving toward.

What? We didn't have a security guarantee with Ukraine. Ukraine was being brought into NATO and that was a redline for Russia. This has nothing to do with defending Japan, Korea, etc. Trump is a bully, as is his America first agenda, but the degree of bullying pales in comparison to that of the neocons who view every country as mere pawns, cannon fodder, to be manipulated, weakened or sacrificed for the sake of US supremacy.

Taiwan is a complicated issue. Biden is the one who kowtowed to China and equivocated about our commitment to defend it.

---

I guess it is the question of whether you (and really it isn't you - it is the foreign policymakers in those countries) of whether you believe that US security guarantees are still credible? I guess it also depends on your appraisal of Russia - whether the threats against the Baltics and Poland are (or are not) credible?

And play this out - if the US goes ahead and removes troops from Poland and the Baltics is the trip wire still as strong?

That is really the test of the current crew - that essentially the likely American end of the support for Keiv is coupled with some sort of strengthening of US security commitments....even at the same time he has been bad mouthing NATO and the EU.

Anarchistbear said:

---

Didn't see the interview but this sounds epically dumb. You always approach Trump on your knees

---

Either that or you pull what Emmanuel Macron did yesterday and rub Trump's knee.

bearister said:

---

*One of Trump's designated media stooges asked Zelensky why he didn't wear a suit and wasn't that being disrespectful.

---

President Trump greets President Zelenskyy at the White House 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tkksSdlcjz

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 28, 2025

Actually, Trump had kind words for Zelensky's wardrobe selection.

bear2034 said:

---

Anarchistbear said:

---

Didn't see the interview but this sounds epically dumb. You always approach Trump on your knees

---

Either that or you pull what Emmanuel Macron did yesterday and rub Trump's knee.

---

The full clip is worth watching



Zelensky took the bait/walked into the trap that Vance laid for him.

Vance is "right" that relitigating history between 2014 and 2022 is pretty much beside the point.


Not sure what the right response is - probably just shut up or pivot to "And thus we are excited to move forward with President Trump in forging a prosperous Ukraine that will benefit from his insights and American know how to develop our vast mineral resources". Neither Vance and particular Trump care that Putin breaks his word - I honestly think they may look at that as a strength.

Quote:

---

This is the refreshing part about Trump- there is no difference between cameras rolling or not. It's a unique insight into how foreign policy works

---

🚨WHOA: The microphone captured Zelenskyy calling JD Vance "Suka," Russian for "Bitch," during their argument 😲pic.twitter.com/raNoKP7WpN

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 28, 2025

Zelensky apparently didn't care the cameras were rolling either.

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if… pic.twitter.com/CtnqXBNcW3

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 28, 2025

Return of the King said:

---

sycasey said:

---

So it turns out that the US government actually can't make other countries do what it wants just because.

---

I look forward to Ukraine trying to defend itself without American weapons

In 2016, the Hillary Clinton campaign and Obama team framed Trump as a Russian agent, and framed Russia for helping him get elected.

One of their big concerns was that Trump was going to abandon their then-ongoing proxy war in Ukraine, which was triggered by their own election… pic.twitter.com/HEM0mpdiTy

— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) February 28, 2025

---

Again - what advances America's interests. The status quo? Russian tanks by summer in Keiv? This isn't about trolling Zelensky. This SHOULD be about what end point is better or worse for us.

Zelensky:

- didn't wear a suit, and called them "costumes"
- had his arms folded (closed body language)
- more nose snorts than normal
- apparently flipped the script and wanted a deal for US troops on the ground, not a Ukraine minerals deal
- reneged on the deal he had w SOS Rubio
- badgered the POTUS and VP in the Oval
- allegedly called the VP a "B-tch" in Ukrainian (Small Man's Complex eeking out)?
- threatened the USA

BearNIt said:

---

Wow!!!!!!!! What a **** Show, Trump and Vance looked absolutely crazy. Putin is jumping for joy. We ought to be ashamed of ourselves. How long before China goes into Taiwan? We will never again be regarded as a trusted ally.

An ally is a partner, a person who has your back. Whether on the playing field or in a courtroom, an ally works alongside you to reach shared goals. They won't leave or let you down. They're committed


Does Col Bone Spur fit this definition?

---

We have a full on CLOWN in the Oval Office that still thinks he's on The Apprentice.
With JD Vance as his trusty sidekick and attack "dog".

How many times did the Orange Buffoon mention Biden or Obama???
This idiot has no sense of our history or uniqueness in the world.

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM OFFICIALLY DIED ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025.

socaltownie said:

---

Return of the King said:

---

sycasey said:

---

So it turns out that the US government actually can't make other countries do what it wants just because.

---

I look forward to Ukraine trying to defend itself without American weapons

In 2016, the Hillary Clinton campaign and Obama team framed Trump as a Russian agent, and framed Russia for helping him get elected.

One of their big concerns was that Trump was going to abandon their then-ongoing proxy war in Ukraine, which was triggered by their own election… pic.twitter.com/HEM0mpdiTy

— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) February 28, 2025

---

Again - what advances America's interests. The status quo? Russian tanks by summer in Keiv? This isn't about trolling Zelensky. This SHOULD be about what end point is better or worse for us.

---

Trump's approach is very pragmatic, based on the fact on the ground. If this war keeps up another year or so, the Russians may well reach Kiev again, along with Kharkov, the 2nd largest city, and possibly Dniepropetrovsk and Odessa.

Ceding one of the main conditions to Russia off the bat, Ukraine's non-admission into NATO, puts pressure on Putin to stop their advances and freeze the current borders (or at least limit their advances to the 4 oblasts).

Ironically Trump's gambit is the best possible strategy for Ukraine, both in terms of limiting loss of lives and destruction, as well as preserving it as a large viable country with access to the sea. Under Kamala the war would have never stopped, the Russian would have kept advancing, and Ukraine would have certainly turned into a landlocked rump state, with Russia annexing most of Novorossiya, and Hungary, Slovakia and possibly Romania and Poland annexing Ukrainian territories as well.

Return of the King said:

---

sycasey said:

---

So it turns out that the US government actually can't make other countries do what it wants just because.

---

I look forward to Ukraine trying to defend itself without American weapons.

---

And what happens when Putin invades a NATO country in Europe?
What will President Bone Spurs do then?
Cut and run again???

So nice to see all of the Russian "apologists" come out of the closet again here at Bearinsider.

You mean Russia, which:

- has superior integrated air defense
- unmatched artillery
- a now 1.3-million-man battle trained military
- unmatched military manufacturing
- newborn integrated drone systems
- North Korea as a manufacturing and manpower backup
- has defeated and depleted Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and USA
- zero debt?
- effectively defeated Ukraine, EU, and NATO
- controls 20% of Ukraine

This is hilarious. Pure TDS. How many Ukrainians died on Obama i, II, and III's watch? How much territory was lost? SCOREBOARD. Trump may at least salvage some peace and a chance to rebuild. Your clown in chief offered nothing but continued loss and destruction. And his senile mutterings were a lot more embarrassing than Trump's antics. The US actually has a leader now, unlike the last four years when we had a empty suit being led around by unelected handlers.

Zippergate said:

---

The US actually has a leader now, unlike the last four years when we had a empty suit being led around by unelected handlers.

---

How long before China invades Taiwan after watching President Bone Spurs today?

It’s hard to see Zelensky coming back from today—not just because of his disrespect in the Oval Office, but because of what it reveals about him. He is emotionally unstable, ungrateful, and entitled—but most of all, he is unreliable. This isn’t about someone walking away from a…

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) February 28, 2025

movielover said:

---

You mean Russia, which:

- has superior integrated air defense
- unmatched artillery
- a now 1.3-million-man battle trained military
- unmatched military manufacturing
- newborn integrated drone systems
- North Korea as a manufacturing and manpower backup
- has defeated and depleted Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and USA
- zero debt?
- effectively defeated Ukraine, EU, and NATO
- controls 20% of Ukraine

---

Are you from Russia?
Or are you on some really strong meds?

DiabloWags said:

---

Return of the King said:

---

sycasey said:

---

So it turns out that the US government actually can't make other countries do what it wants just because.

---

I look forward to Ukraine trying to defend itself without American weapons.

---

And what happens when Putin invades a NATO country in Europe?
What will President Bone Spurs do then?
Cut and run again???

So nice to see all of the Russian "apologists" come out of the closet again here at Bearinsider.

---

Obama had the good sense of not intervening when Russia annexed Crimea, knowing that it was a vital interest to Russia and that they would therefore have escalatory dominance on an eventual conflict there.

Somewhere along the line, the neocons took over and half-baked ideology replaced common sense, and that resulted in 800,000 Ukrainian soldiers dead, over 100,000 maimed and well over a million men wounded. Exactly as Mearsheimer called it 10 years ago, this is the seminal thesis for this thread:

Best advice to solve the Russia-Ukraine Conflict was given by professor John J. Mearsheimer

Politics didn't listen to his voice of wisdom

"The West is leading Ukraine down the primrose path and the end result is that Ukraine is going to get wrecked"pic.twitter.com/NnSVtpI1Ci

— Wim Grommen (@wimgrommen) March 20, 2022

Three years ago Prof John Mearsheimer from Univiersity of Chicago laid out the problem with Western interference in Ukraine and predicted what is happening today. This whole situation could have been prevented.

Full video: https://t.co/3704MCTyXz pic.twitter.com/G8FLLCcvQd

— Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) March 13, 2022