Donald Trump deserves an Oscar: The Trump-Zelenskyy blowup

Vice President JD Vance (right) speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) as President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov)

After that performance on Friday at the Oval Office, when Trump and JD Vance practically lynched Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, can anyone doubt the shouting match was historical and consequential. Sickening even.

It may have changed the world.

And it was all done for the cameras, transmitting the images to one man in particular, Russian President Vladmir Putin.

Putin might have worried that Zelenskyy had beaten him to Trump to curry favor in the stretch run to see what would happen as a year three of war ended.

We’ll never know what really happened behind closed doors on what was supposed to be a discussion about a Ukrainian mining deal, an outline of a new partnership that would get the US and Ukraine back on track.

But Trump knew how to “act” during what should have been a routine, unimportant photo op of the principals all in the room together about the boring stuff.

Not the big goal of getting to a ceasefire to end the Russian invasion.

As the cameras rolled, Trump made it about the big thing. He tells Zelenskyy, “You’d never have a deal. You want me to say really terrible things about Putin, and then say, “Hi, Vladimir, how are we doing on the deal?”

It’s the deal maker mentality of Trump on display, convincing everyone he’s the good guy. “That doesn’t work that way with Putin. I’m not aligned with anybody. I’m aligned with the United States of America, and for the good of the world. I’m aligned with the world. And I want to get this thing over with.”

And then the acting really begins, as Trump turns to the camera and makes Zelenskyy the villian.

“You see, the hatred he’s got for Putin,” Trump said. “It’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate. He’s got tremendous hatred and I understand that, but I can tell you the other side isn’t exactly in love with, you know, him either.”

Trump’s soliloquy in the middle of an impromptu conversation continues.

“You want me to be tough? I could be tougher than any human being you’ve ever seen. I’d be so tough, But you’re never going to get a deal that way. So that’s the way it goes.”

Trump would have quit as he ran out of gas.

Then it was JD Vance to the rescue, saying that the “path to peace is diplomacy,” as he did the most undiplomatic thing. He stoked the argument, criticizing Biden for essentially helping Ukraine, saying Biden was “thumping our chest.”

It hearkened back to the lies Trump told early in the week, calling Zelenskyy a dictator (he’s not), then denying it. But also  saying Ukraine was the aggressor when Russia invaded?

Really. Did Ukraine self-invade?

Then Vance said: “What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing.”

So that’s what Vance thinks dressing down Zelenskyy for the world in this tiny photo op is all about. This is American diplomacy in action.

Zelenskyy tried to explain that Ukraine had a ceasefire deal with Putin and it was broken. “He killed people,” said Zelenskyy. “What kind of diplomacy is that?”

Now Zelenskyy just wants assurances of security.

But Vance rebuts. “Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American people,” Vance said.

It’s Vance’s bid for the best supporting actor Oscar.

Zelenskyy said every country has problems at the beginning of war, “even you.” And that, along with Vance’s boosting really got Trump’s dander up.

“Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel,”Trump said talking over Zelenskyy’s denial.  “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re gonna feel. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel…Right now you’re not in a very good position. …You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards again.”

Zelenskyy said, “I’m not playing cards.”

Trump spoke right over him. “You’re gambling with lives. millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

It was a remarkable display of Trump “losing it.” Trump and Vance acting as insurance agents of Russia trying to make a sale. The two of them showing a depressing lack of maturity and leadership. Because it just went on.

“Your country is in big trouble,” Trump said, again, speaking over Zelenskyy.  “You’re not winning.”

And Trump was super aware of being on camera. “I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on, Trump said. “That’s why I kept this going so long.”

Then he turns to Zelenskyy and said after Vance prompted him earlier, “You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. You’re running low on soldiers…Then you tell us ‘I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire.”

He’s openly mocking Zelenskyy as if he were Zelenskyy.

Acting!

And then as he returns to Trump voice, “If you could get a ceasefire, right now, I tell you, you take it so the bullets stop flying.”

It was Trump on the hard sell. Transactional. ABC. Always be closing.

“The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States,” Trump said to Zelenskyy. “And your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest, that’s not a nice thing.”

The method actor at work.

But the guy is president. Used to be the leader of the free world. Not after the UN vote. And not now when he’s acting like an  insurance agent for a dictator named Putin.

Oscar worthy.

And sad for America, and the rest of the free world.

If you weren’t saddened by last Monday’s UN vote when the United States voted with Russia and its dictator buddies North Korea, China and Hungary, you should be now.

That Oval Office show was an American mugging of a war hero. Disgraceful. And now scary because the reality should be sinking in.

The US is in bed with the enemy. The dictator adversary is now the ally. And our ally, who we’ve given $120 billion, a figure Trump lies about saying it’s’ $350 billion. It’s not. Hey, Trump just wants to be paid back.

America is acting small, when it should be acting big. Now it’s as small as Putin.

In one month, Trump has changed America and America’s image to the world.

We used to be the world’s cop. Not any longer.

We are the U.S. of Trump. Small, petty and we want our money back.

Did you vote for this?

Filipinos should especially care about what’s happening.

In 1899, the Philippines was the first democracy in Asia, and it was invaded by the US who started the oft forgotten Philippine-American War.

Think about this. It was the Philippines in the role of Ukraine. And the US was in the role of Russia.

Let that sink in.

NOTE: I am currently doing my latest “Amok Monologue” at the Fresno Rogue Festival with two more shows, Thursday, March 6 at 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. It’s at the Lotus Room, 626 E. Olive St. Visit amok.com to get a ticket link.

This is the work I’ll be touring in Canada this summer.

If you’re not near Fresno this week, stay tuned to see how you can watch the show at a later time.

As you know I talk about my columns and my Asian American Filipino American life in a live stage performance. I’ll be joined by other storytellers at an upcoming benefit for the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) SF Chapter on  March 18.  Tickets are available here.

AAJA, especially its SF Chapter, has been so important in developing Asian American voices in journalism. I hope you will support them.

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist, commentator and humorist. He writes for the Inquirer.net’s US Channel. He has written a weekly “Amok” column on Asian American issues since 1995. Find him on YouTube, patreon and substack.