Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Mar 1: Democratic Party leaders have strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for his handling of a tense White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump and Vice President JD Vance, stating in a post on X, "Trump and Vance are doing Putin's dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy."
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeled the confrontation in the Oval Office a "shameful display," asserting that "Putin must be overjoyed with today's theatrics." She further remarked that a dignified engagement with Zelensky would have been a show of strength for an American president.
Jean Shaheen, the Democratic leader in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, dismissed Trump’s behavior as a "childish tantrum" and stated that while Russia had failed to break Ukraine’s spirit, Trump's actions would not achieve that goal either. She added, "Today’s behavior by President Trump and Vice President Vance would be more shocking if it wasn't the new normal."
Democratic governors echoed support for Zelensky, affirming, "We, along with millions of Americans, stand united with the Ukrainian people." The Democratic Governors Association further urged that "Americans must protect our strong democratic values on the world stage instead of undermining President Zelensky’s fight for his nation’s freedom."
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the White House meeting as "appalling," warning that it would only embolden Putin. Representative Eric Swalwell sarcastically remarked that Zelensky "went into the Oval Office and stood up to Russia's best negotiators."
Senator Mark Warner criticized Trump's conduct as "beyond bizarre," asserting that "today is a great victory for authoritarians across the globe—Trump is abandoning our allies and embracing our adversaries."
The incident has intensified political tensions, with Democrats warning that Trump's stance on Ukraine could have far-reaching consequences for global democracy and U.S. foreign policy.