Congressional Republicans on Friday have been practically unanimous of their reward of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance after they and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fiery exchange before live cameras in the Oval Office.
Chatting with reporters within the White Home driveway proper afterward, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted that the shouting match may finish U.S. help for Zelenskyy, calling the assembly a “full, utter catastrophe.”
“Any individual requested me, am I embarrassed about Trump. I’ve by no means been extra pleased with the president. I used to be very pleased with JD Vance standing up for our nation. We need to be useful. What I noticed within the Oval Workplace was disrespectful, and I do not know if we will ever do enterprise with Zelenskyy once more,” Graham, the Senate Price range Committee Chairman, stated. “The best way he dealt with the assembly, the best way he confronted the president, was simply excessive.”
President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the White Home in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
He recommended Zelenskyy may want to contemplate resigning.
“He both must resign and ship anyone over that we will do enterprise with, or he wants to alter,” Graham stated.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, speaks to reporters outdoors the West Wing of the White Home, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
“Due to President Trump – the times of America being taken benefit of and disrespected are OVER,” Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X.
“Zelenskyy may have left the White Home in the present day with a peace deal for his nation, ending this battle. As an alternative, he selected to disrespect our President and nation,” Rep. Diane Harshbarger, R-Tenn., posted on X. “Thanks, President Trump and Vice President Vance, for standing up for our nation!”
Rep. Victoria Spartz, an Indiana Republican who’s Ukrainian-born, stated Zelenskyy is doing the Ukrainian individuals a “critical disservice” by insulting the American president.
“This isn’t a theater act however an actual struggle!” she posted on X. “Zelensky is doing a critical disservice to the Ukrainian individuals insulting the American President and the American individuals – simply to appease Europeans and improve his low polling in Ukraine after he failed miserably to defend his nation.”
“No funding to Ukraine. This gross disrespect is not going to stand,” GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida posted on X. “Time for everybody in Congress to drop their Ukraine pins.”
“America First in motion,” freshman Texas Republican Brandon Gill posted on X. “Thanks, @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance for prioritizing our individuals first and for selling peace!”
President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as U.S. Vice President JD Vance reacts on the White Home in Washington, Feb. 28, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Democrats, however, have been dismayed by the jarring, if not unprecedented, diplomatic efficiency.
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s soiled work,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer stated. “Senate Democrats won’t ever cease combating for freedom and democracy.”
“A hero and a coward are assembly within the Oval Workplace in the present day. And when the assembly is over, the hero will return residence to Ukraine,” Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., posted on X.
“What we noticed within the Oval Workplace in the present day was past disgraceful,” Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., posted on X. “Trump and Vance berating Zelenskyy — placing on a present of lies and misinformation that may make Putin blush — is a humiliation for America and a betrayal of our allies.They’re popping champagne within the Kremlin.”
Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, stated, “Each time I’ve met with President Zelenskyy, he is thanked the American individuals for our sturdy help. We owe him our thanks for main a nation combating on the entrance traces of democracy – not the general public berating he obtained on the White Home.”
Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota stated, “That press convention was choreographed for an viewers of 1 and he sits in Moscow. As soon as, we fought tyrants. At present Trump and Vance are bending America’s knee. And that weakens us.”
“President Trump and his administration proceed to embarrass America on the world stage,” Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated in a press release. “At present’s White Home assembly with the President of Ukraine was appalling and can solely serve to additional embolden Vladimir Putin, a brutal dictator.”
Vice President JD Vance speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as President Donald Trump listens within the Oval Workplace on the White Home, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington.
Mystyslav Chernov/AP
One reasonable Home Republican, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a serious Ukraine ally on Capitol Hill, joined Democrats in defending Ukraine — although he stopped in need of criticizing the president or vice chairman.
“Some need to whitewash the reality, however we can not ignore the reality. Russia is at fault for this struggle,” Bacon posted on X.
Later, in an up to date assertion, he stated, “A nasty day for America’s overseas coverage. Ukraine needs independence, free markets and rule of regulation. It needs to be a part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We ought to be clear that we stand for freedom.”
Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus and member of the Home Everlasting Choose Committee on Intelligence, stated Trump “selected the facet of dictators.”
“What simply occurred within the Oval Workplace was some of the embarrassing moments in American historical past,” Quigley, from Illinois, exclaimed. “The world order that was established after the Second World Conflict is useless.”
Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated, “It was heartbreaking to witness the flip of occasions that transpired in in the present day’s assembly relating to Ukraine’s future. It’s time to put comprehensible feelings apart and are available again to the negotiation desk. This will and might be fastened. A robust, sovereign Ukraine is important for world stability within the face of Putin’s ongoing aggression.”
ABC Information’ Oren Oppenheim contributed to this report.
