At the start of Friday at the White House, here was the scheduled agenda for the visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: Oval Office press event then a lunch meeting with President Trump, followed by a signing event on a deal between the U.S. and Ukraine over rare mineral rights, then a joint press conference between the two leaders. As many of you know by now, that agenda didn’t go as planned.
Read More: BREAKING: After Fiery Oval Office Exchange, Trump Sends Zelensky Packing
What the Heck Was Zelensky Thinking?
Find more reactions on the blow-up here.
Former Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said in a video he posted to his X account this morning that he spoke with both the president and Zelensky ahead of the official cementing of the deal scheduled for Friday.
He continued, “President Trump was very excited, President Zelensky is very excited about this deal. A half a trillion dollars, folks, is a big deal,” praising Trump as both a ” deal maker and peace maker.” [sic]:
In an appearance on Fox News in the wake of Zelensky being escorted out of the White House, Graham gave his take on what happened in the Oval Office meeting, hailing it as “a masterclass in how to stand up for America”:
He went on to state that “China, Iran, and any would-be adversary” of the U.S. will take note of what happened in the Oval Office meeting.
“I think Moscow’s more afraid than ever,” Graham said.
The senator was effusive in his praise for both Pres. Trump and VP JD Vance, saying he had “urged [Zelensky in his phone call] to be grateful and thankful.”
He added that, in his opinion, after Zelensky disrespected our country, he “[doesn’t] know if you can put it back together”:
In an impromptu press conference outside the WH, Graham was unequivocal, stating that he “[doesn’t] think the United States can do business with Zelensky again”:
As a bookend to the ordeal, the South Carolina Republican remarked on X that “the deal is off”:
Unfortunately, America was disrespected and the deal is off.
I have never been more proud of President @realDonaldTrump and Vice President @JDVance for standing up for America First.
This is a developing story. RedState will provide updates as they become available.
