Summary

A dramatic Oval Office confrontation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored Trump’s hostility toward Ukraine and preference for negotiating with Russia.

Unlike past presidents who handled tense exchanges with allies privately, Trump and JD Vance berated Zelenskyy on camera, siding with Russia over a democratic ally.

This marked a break from decades of bipartisan U.S. policy that prioritized supporting democracies for stability and economic benefits.

Republicans largely praised Trump’s stance, while Democrats and European leaders firmly backed Ukraine. The meeting ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave after warning that Putin would eventually attack NATO countries.

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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    21 hours ago

    Oh give me a fucking break. Defending democracies? Since when has the US not been more likely to destroy democracies than protect them. US Ukraine policy has nothing to do with democracy.

  • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    From the article…

    Previous American presidents have had plenty of tense exchanges with allies, but often in private and never like this.

    What made this one different was not just that it unfolded with cameras rolling, but that it featured an American president siding with an autocratic and longtime adversary, Russia, against a nascent democracy that has struggled for years to break away from Moscow’s orbit and join the NATO alliance of Western democracies.

    • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Its dangerous and we shouldn’t allow this presidency to continue. Next thing we know we’ll be crushing other democratic nations with the autocracies until the whole world is enslaved.

      • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        and we shouldn’t allow this presidency to continue.

        There are legal safeguards for that built-in.

        If you’re not just being hyperbolic (or astroturfing for anarchy), and there is some truth to what you’re saying, at some point those safe guards will kick in.

        And just because they haven’t kicked in yet doesn’t mean they won’t kick in later.

        This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

        • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          I truly believe we need to do what the Civil Rights movement did. Bonus points if you bring tents and camp out for the double whammy strike.

        • minnow@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Could you be more specific? Because the only safeguard I’m aware of is impeachment and removal, which requires both chambers of Congress to act against Trump and I just don’t believe that’s going to happen while Republicans control both chambers and impeachment certainly isn’t going to “kick in” as if it’s some automatic process.

          So I’m genuinely curious about what’s got you so optimistic

          • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            Because the only safeguard I’m aware of is impeachment and removal, which requires both chambers of Congress to act against Trump and I just don’t believe that’s going to happen while Republicans control both chambers and impeachment certainly isn’t going to “kick in” as if it’s some automatic process.

            I believe you’re incorrect, I believe Congress at some point will act, and that’s what I was speaking of. Even a Republican lead one.

            You’re seeing some split by Republicans, objecting to how Zelensky was treated yesterday at the White House, and up to now you hadn’t seen any division whatsoever.

            At some point they’ll act, if it got to that point.

            So I’m genuinely curious about what’s got you so optimistic

            Oh I’m definately not optimistic, it’s going to be a long three years and tenish months, that’s for sure.

            I’m just not hyperbolic about it.

            This comment is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0-

            • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              Some Republicans also spoke out against J6 before they all decided it was a regular tourist visit and the violent mob were all political prisoners.

              Let’s see how they feel about this debacle in a week.

            • Valthorn@feddit.nu
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              2 days ago

              The last safe guard is the second amendment. I hope enough liberals will realise that in time.

                • Gongin@sh.itjust.works
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                  2 days ago

                  There liberal comment was literally because they have guns also that they hope they will act on the 2nd to save us. For someone correcting everyone you sure are misinterpreting a lot.

                  Also we are not close to 0%. I’d say at least >30% by made up metrics. Congress will not act, too many maga. Scotus just proved with their stay of USAID that they will back Trump. Vance openly said no one can enforce the Judicial as the US Marshals are under the executive. It’s bleak.

        • grue@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          No, there really aren’t. Every single one has been systematically dismantled already.

  • mount_snowden@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    No one loves democracy more than America! America would never overthrow a democratically elected government to protect the business interests of American corporations!

  • alykanas@slrpnk.net
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    2 days ago

    Democracies everywhere breathe a sigh of relief.

    Edit: are the downvotes are because I didn’t say thank you to the American people. ?

    • Bezier@suppo.fi
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      2 days ago

      You can’t seriously think that trump’s bullshit makes anything better.

    • PugJesus@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      As atrocious as our foreign policy has been over the years, we have been far more keen to pressure authoritarian allies into democratic reforms than other major powers with their allies.

      PR matters - it isn’t separate from policy, it both shapes and is shaped by policy. And our PR was centered around the idea of being a friend to democracy. That doesn’t mean we actually were a friend to democracy - but it does mean that every action against democracy, or every inaction failing to defend it - carried an additional cost - in more intensive propaganda, in lies or subterfuge, in manufacturing issues - that it will no longer carry going forward.

      tl;dr; you thought our foreign policy was shitty before? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.