The US vice president has said the meeting went downhill after the Ukrainian guest got “frustrated” by his comment
US Vice President J.D. Vance has dismissed allegations that his heated exchange with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office was premeditated, rejecting claims that he and President Donald Trump staged a “good cop, bad cop” routine to humiliate and expel their guest.
Zelensky engaged in a shouting match with Trump and Vance during a tense meeting at the White House last month. Trump accused Zelensky of showing disrespect toward the United States, failing to appreciate past US aid, and refusing to pursue peace with Russia. Zelensky was ultimately asked to leave the White House before closed-door talks even began, leading many of his supporters to speculate that the confrontation had been orchestrated.
Asked in a recent Fox News interview whether the clash was a “good cop, bad cop” setup, Vance explained how events unfolded.
“No, it was certainly not planned,” Vance said, explaining that Trump had been responding to a third consecutive question from the same reporter when he decided to interject.
“I just wanted to answer the question. And then, of course, something I said in my answer caused the blowup. Zelensky got frustrated with it, and then everything went from there,” Vance said.
“I’m the vice president, I try to be respectful. But I also recognize that sometimes the president wants me to say stuff. And of course, if I think there’s something useful I can say and I think that it’s going to be deferential to the president – I’ll jump in and offer my thoughts,” he added.
The press conference took a turn when Trump explained his decision to remain neutral in an effort to mediate a settlement with Moscow rather than increasing support for Kiev. Vance commented: “The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy”
Zelensky interjected with a rant about how Russia had “occupied parts of Ukraine since 2014” and that no US administration had stopped it. “What kind of diplomacy, J.D., you are speaking about?” he asked.
“I am talking about the kind of diplomacy that is going to end the destruction of your country…” Vance began to respond before Zelensky cut him off again, saying, “Yes, but what do you…”
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it is disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance stated.
Zelensky then remarked that: “During the war everybody has problems, even you. But you have [a] nice ocean and do not feel [it] now, but you will feel it in the future…”
This prompted Trump to jump in, telling Zelensky: “Do not tell us what we are going to feel. We are trying to solve a problem. Because you are in no position to dictate.”
The increasingly heated exchange continued for several minutes before Trump eventually ended the press conference, concluding: “Alright, I think we have seen enough. What do you think? This is going to be great television.”
