Media critic Gerald Rivera has placed emphasis on the intense meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky, and in an interview, Kiev leaders have stepped into an “ambush” into an oval office.
“I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's his worst President Trump. Trump is Trump as a misbehavior bully who scorns the heroes of war. This was not an oval office photo shoot. This was an ambush,” Rivera said when he appeared on News Nation on Friday.
“They wanted to bring him to a place where they could humiliate him. And what role does he actually have, Vice President JD Vance, you know – you know – you're a rude newcomer who chips. You know, what was he doing? TV personality Rivera, told News Nation's host Connel McShane.
The controversial meeting between Kiev and Washington began in good faith, but it swirled with screams and pointing, and the Ukrainian delegation left the White House earlier than was scheduled after the joint press conference was abolished.
Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of not appreciating the military aid the US has provided in recent years, and accused them of lacking the leverage needed to attack a peace deal with Russia.
Zelensky then pushed Vance over his claim that a peace agreement could be formed with the Kremlin to end the three-year war in Eastern Europe. The Ukrainian leader pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to trade prisoners, refusing to constant attacks on Ukraine and betrayal of other ceasefire efforts.
Vance told Zelensky that he was “disrespectful” to come to Washington and “trying to sue this in front of the American media.”
“Now you're in the position of talent issues, and you're forcing the president to end his conflict, so you should thank him for trying to put an end to his conflict,” Vance said Friday.
Due to the distance from the conflict, the United States did not feel the direct significance of the three-year war. This could change over the next few years, Zelensky told the president and vice president.
“You're not in a position so don't tell us what we're feeling… to direct what we feel,” Trump replied. “We feel very good and it makes us feel very strong. You're not in a very good position right now.”
Trump insisted that without the US there would be no “cards” in Ukraine.
“With us, you start holding cards,” Trump said, warning that Zelensky is living and gambling for millions of people. “You are gambling with World War II…and what you are doing is very rude to this country.
Rivera claimed on Friday that Vance's actions during the meeting “appeared to be written almost entirely,” and that people would “die” because of the repetition.
“And I think people will die. People will die as a result of this catastrophe, because no aid flows.
“This interfers with real life. This wasn't just theatrical play. This was the policy that was being done. I think all of this was written by the Trump administration, and I think they went there with the aim of making Zelensky look bad,” he added.
Rivera, who supported former vice president Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, said Washington and Kiev's sour relationship will instill further trust in the Russian military.
“But I am more interested in the facts on the ground in Ukraine, eastern Ukraine. I think the Russian troops will encourage this,” he said. “The Ukrainian army feels plagued and plagued by its number one weapons supplier and plagued and plagued to fight for its life.”
Later on Friday, Trump said Zelensky was not ready to sign a peace deal with Russia, “disregarding” the United States and could return to the White House “when he is ready for peace.”
Zelensky thanked Trump, adding that Ukraine “needs to have just and lasting peace, and we are working precisely for that.”
