#1,028: The Ambush

The art and underlying skill of diplomacy lies in being able to firmly disagree with someone or express strong opposition while still maintaining a polite and respectful demeanor. Winston Churchill (supposedly) expressed this truism best when he opined that “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions “ I’m not so sure Winnie ever said or wrote this; he simply wasn’t that witty. One wag I am sure of is humorist, columnist, movie star (and at one time the honorary Mayor of Beverly Hills) Will Rogers, who unquestionably said “Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie,' until you can find a rock."

Historically, the best, most successful acts of diplomacy have taken place behind closed doors - often in out-of-the-way places and, in the modern age, never, ever, in front of a bank of cameras. Ever since his ride down his gilt escalator in 2015, the public has come to expect the unexpected from IT. Whether it be in what he says, how he gestures or the lies he tells, people the world over have come to take it for granted that the 47th POTUS is what Mark Twain once called “a falsehood in flesh and blood.” To say that IT is the bipolar opposite of a diplomat goes without saying . . . but say it we must.

Last Friday’s Oval Office presser with Felon47, Vantz, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was not an historic act of diplomacy taking place in a room full of cameras and reporters; it was an out-and-out ambush. Going in to the meeting, President Zelensky had hoped to secure U.S. support in any cease-fire talks with Russia. (Remember, during the 2024 campaign, IT had promised the American voting public - and indeed, the world - that he could and would bring the now 3-year old war to a close within his first 24 hours in office . . . and likely even before he took the oath of office. Instead, Zelensky’s relationship with both the president and vice-president was revealed for the entire world to see.

It was meant to be a moment of triumph for Zelensky, a change after weeks of maneuvering for an Oval Office meeting to demonstrate American backing in Europe’s longest and bloodiest war in generations. Instead, the meeting unraveled into insults. He was berated by both POTUS and VPOTUS as “disrespectful” for arguing that Russia posed a threat to Ukraine. On more than one occasion, the V.P. accused Zelensky of never having “thanked the President and the American people” for all they had given Ukraine, blamed them for starting the war against Russia . . . both obvious falsehoods. Voice rising, POTUS accused Pres. Zelensky of “gambling with World War III.”

Throughout the brief (10 minute) press conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio slouched quietly, his hands clasped and appearing stone-faced. Some commentators claimed he appeared to be “embarrassed.” And yet, early Sunday he fiercely defended ITs sharp turn against Ukraine’s leader, accusing President Zelensky of trying to derail the peace process with Russia by openly challenging the POTUS and VPOTUS. “What Zelensky did, unfortunately, is that he found every opportunity to try to ‘Ukrain-splain’ on every issue.”

During the Q&A that followed, the Ukrainian President was questioned about his choice to wear combat gear while attending a function in the Oval Office. “Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re in the highest level of this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit? I just want to see, do you own a suit?” Brian Glenn, a commentator for the arch-conservative Real America’s Voice (RAV) outlet asked. "A lot of Americans have problems with you respecting this office.” (It should be noted that Glenn is the boyfriend of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene). President Zelensky quickly jabbed back with a sarcastic remark. “I will wear [this] costume after the war will finish. (N.B.: he used the word “costume,” which in Ukrainian is костюм, their word for ‘suit’). “Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better, I don’t know, he added.

(Anyone find it odd that no conservative reporter or news outlet has questioned Elon Musk’s attire at the first Cabinet meeting of the Mump Regime? At that event he came clad in a single-breasted charcoal peacoat, which he opened wide at one point to show off the words “tech support” in large letters on a black T-shirt. His outfit was complemented by two bespoke items: a Tesla-themed Texas belt buckle and a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap. It has long been considered the height of disrespect to wear a hat in the Oval Office . . . )

It then quickly brought the gathering to an end and President Zelensky departed the Oval Office, and was driven to a military airport where he flew back to the Ukraine. Almost immediately thereafter, the marching and chowder society known as the Republican caucus began spreading verbal encomia, effusively praising and thanking the president for standing up for America. What went unspoken, of course, was that the only victor that afternoon was Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. As for the rest of America’s European allies, their leaders immediately rallied behind President Zelensky:

French President Emmanuel Macron posted: "There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine. We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago - and to keep doing so."
Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote that "no one wants peace more than the citizens of Ukraine", with his replacement-in-waiting Friedrich Merz adding that "we stand with Ukraine" and "we must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war".
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada "will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace".
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "Ukraine, Spain stands with you," while his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk wrote: "Dear [Zelensky], dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone."

Whether or not the ambush of President Zelensky was preplanned or spontaneous is a question that began being asked within minutes of the actual event. Not surpassingly, the White House flatly denied any conspiracy to embarrass or humiliate Zelensky, thereby showing Vladimir Putin that he has an obsequious toady sitting in the Oval Office. If the humiliation session was spontaneous, then why did Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.-SC) tell members of the press almost immediately after the meeting when down in flames, that he had urged Zelensky earlier that morning not to “take the bait?” Did he know something? Even media pundit Geraldo Rivera weighed in on the meeting, telling viewers during his Friday appearance on NewsNation (formerly WGN), “I just could not believe what I was seeing. It’s President Trump at his worst. President Trump as an ill-mannered bully insulting a war hero. This wasn’t an Oval Office photo-op. This was an ambush,”

How much longer are we going to put up with a chief executive who seems to be a walking, breathing example of a tertiary syphilitic? How much further can America stomach a reality TV show host who will do or say anything that is on the tip of his tongue or corroding his frontal lobe? Friends, It and his cadre of changelings are causing the United States to become a laughing stock among nations . . . seemingly for the sake of several multi-billionaires’ greed, cupidity and utter corruptibility.

620 days until the 2026 midterm elections . . .