Commentary
One might excuse Ukraine President Zelenskyy for not becoming familiar with “The Art of the Deal.” President Trump’s book may have been lost in the destruction of the Kyiv library.
He may not have heard President Trump state in his inaugural address: “(We) will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply put, put America first.”
And he probably didn’t read Ben Domenech’s piece in The Transom, “If You Go Up Against Trump, You’ll Lose.”
However, Zelenskyy surely heard Trump’s speech while attending the January economics gathering in Davos. European leaders did.
“He offered to be a friend and trading partner to the rest of the world but left no doubt; his job is to put America First,” commented former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore, who now leads the American Opportunity Foundation.
Showing up at the White House for his meeting Friday with Trump casually dressed was his first mistake and it was duly noted by Trump as he greeted Zelenskyy upon his arrival. But his making Oval Office remarks that resulted in a scolding from Vice President Vance and to be chided by Trump for being “ungrateful” led to an unfortunate meeting that was to set the stage for a signing of an agreement on rare earth materials.
Zelenskyy took a schooling from Trump as he informed that without the U.S., he doesn’t have the cards.
Watching the talking heads commenting on the meeting after it adjourned, I was disappointed, but not surprised, that they tended to blame Trump for the fiery exchange. They were “old Washington” people, who once worked for President George W. Bush, who like his father, saw America merely as player in the broad globalization scheme.
In the first weeks of the second Trump administration, he has given the media unprecedented access to visiting dignitaries, including India’s Prime Minister Modi, French President Macron and British Prime Minister Starmer in Oval Office meetings with the media prior to the official press conference.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been working on developing the relationship for the U.S. around a critical materials deal that would be beneficial to both countries, was “devastated,” calling the meeting an “absolute, utter disaster.”
Graham, who met with Zelenskyy, along with Democrat Senators Klobuchar and Coons, prior to his meeting at the White House, said he had urged the Ukrainian leader to “stay on message” and “be grateful, be thankful.”
In Other News
Leon Panetta, it seems, hasn’t learned a lesson about agreeing to sign a letter with fellow government careerists over an issue, believing anyone cares what he thinks.
Panetta was one of the 51 former intel officers who signed the letter in October 2020, falsely claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian misinformation.
Now, he was among five former defense secretaries to condemn President Trump’s firing of senior military leaders, urging Congress not to confirm their successors.
Get this. Retiring as secretary of defense in 2013, Panetta concentrated on the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay, where they boast a “dedication to motivating and preparing people for lives of public service and helping them to become more knowledgeably engaged in the democratic process.”
Now, isn’t that encouraging?
Finally, Sen. Adam Schiff became another easy choice for my March Fool’s Day “honors.” Appearing on the little-watched CNN Wednesday evening he was his old self, critical of President Trump. This time, accusing him of betraying an ally over the rare earth minerals deal he was about to negotiate with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.
Ignoring Trump’s belief that Ukraine should repay America for the billions of dollars given to fight its war with Russia, Schiff said, “We have no commitment to democracy, no commitment to our allies. It’s all about the money.”
Schiff still hasn’t provided the proof he claimed to have had of Trump’s collusion with Russia.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
