Friday's Oval Office shouting match
Why did it happen and what does it mean?
First, the myth:
One of the points Trump repeated during Friday's Oval Office beat down was the U.S. has sent Ukraine $350 billion since the start of the war. This simply is not true. First, Congress has authorized approximately $120 billion; and second, $230 billion in cash packed in bags has not been sent to Ukraine. The funds authorized by Congress have been spent in the U.S. (manufacturing weapons of war to be shipped to Ukraine). In other words, the Benjamins have been used, in part, to create jobs here at home.
Second, the victim:
Why was Trump so angry yesterday? My theory is he sensed his Nobel Peace Prize melting away as the meeting devolved. Because he couldn't actually say that, Trump turned victim immediately after Vance added his two cents to the discussion. Trump must have said, "You haven't thanked the United States" several times (which of course was code for "You haven't thanked me").
Third, the implications:
I don't know what fate awaits the Ukrainian people but I do know this: By turning our back on a sovereign, democratic nation, no American ally is safe anywhere in the world now. Think about that the next time you see your children or hug your grandkids.
Fourth, I’ll let you know if either letter I sent yesterday gets picked up:
If the shouting match between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky had taken place in a bar, punches surely would have been thrown. If you ask me, February 28, 2025 will be remembered as a date that will live in infamy.
If the shouting match between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky had taken place in a bar, punches surely would have been thrown. And if Vladimir Putin had been a bystander, he would have hollered, "Hey, bartender. Drinks for everyone here tonight. I'm buying."
As always, feel free to send me your reaction to today’s FreidomReport. Thanks.
-DF
"A Day that will live in Infamy."
FDR made that statement when America was attacked by a foreign nation, an enemy abroad.
This time, America was attacked by its own president and his lackey congress, the enemy within.
Sad to watch.
I'm glad that Zelensky did not sign the agreement. I expect the EU will step up to the task to defend democracy and preserve NATO. The precious metals will now be up for bid, and the $120B spent on America's arms manufacturing, paying American salaries and benefitting American communities will disappear into Elon Musk's corrupt contracts. America will lose power and respect in the world and autocrats will be emboldened.
Trump & Vance proved how small and stupid they are, and the rest of the Republicans who flipped their script after the debacle - from only hours earlier - proved themselves to be spineless cowards once again. But Zelensky refused to kiss the ring. Good on him.
The Art of the Deal-maker has been exposed - a schoolyard bully, a street thug mob-boss wanna-be. Our President.
Are you proud of yourselves MAGA?
Before the meeting, Trump already knew that Zelenskyy would never sell out our country - just as he had refused to hand it over to Russia. So he staged this public humiliation, painting Zelenskyy as ungrateful and disrespectful.
It’s a classic, cheap gaslighting tactic - one abusers always use when they’re losing leverage: shift the blame, twist the narrative, and accuse the other side of ingratitude and disrespect while pushing an unfair deal.