Republicans Split, Democrats Outraged Over Trump’s Blowup \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The fallout from the heated Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reshaping the congressional debate over U.S. support for Ukraine. While some Republicans who previously backed Ukraine are now turning against Zelenskyy, others remain critical of Trump’s handling of the meeting. Meanwhile, Democrats are condemning Trump and Vice President JD Vance for what they see as an attempt to humiliate Zelenskyy and appease Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump-Zelenskyy Showdown: Quick Looks
- Oval Office Clash: Trump berates Zelenskyy, calling him “disrespectful,” and cancels a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal.
- Republican Divide: Some GOP lawmakers shift against Ukraine, while others worry about U.S. credibility.
- Democratic Backlash: Democrats accuse Trump and Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work.”
- Russia Celebrates: Russian officials praise Trump, calling the meeting a humiliation for Ukraine.
- European Leaders React: France, Estonia, and Poland reaffirm their support for Kyiv.
- Military Aid in Question: Trump’s confrontation raises doubts about continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
- Congressional Uncertainty: Lawmakers struggle to determine the future of Ukraine funding and security guarantees.
- Global Impact: The breakdown in diplomacy could reshape international relations and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Deep Look
Republicans Who Have Supported Ukraine in the Past
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC)
- Called the meeting a “complete, utter disaster” and said he’s “never been more proud” of Trump.
- “What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again.”
SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO
- “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER STEVE SCALISE (R-LA)
- “President Trump is fighting for PEACE around the world and is putting America First as our best negotiator — he’s the only one to get Russia to the table to consider a serious and lasting peace agreement with Ukraine.”
SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK)
- “Under this President — the greatest, freest, and most generous nation on Earth is putting America First. I’d encourage anyone who has a problem with that to reevaluate their priorities.”
REP. DON BACON (R-NE)
- “A bad day for America’s foreign policy. Ukraine wants independence, free markets, and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom.”
REP. MIKE LAWLER (R-NY)
- “Diplomacy is tough, and oftentimes there are serious differences of opinion and heated exchanges behind closed doors. Having this spill out into public view was a disaster — especially for Ukraine.”
Republicans Who Have Opposed Ukraine Aid
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO)
- “Remember: the U.S. Senate has repeatedly and for years voted BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine with no strings attached and with no true oversight. It’s time for some ACCOUNTABILITY.”
SEN. MIKE LEE (R-UT)
- “Thank you for standing up for OUR COUNTRY and putting America first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!”
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL (R-KS)
- “Not another penny.”
REP. ANDY BIGGS (R-AZ)
- “Dictator Zelensky had the audacity to disrespect President @realDonaldTrump and VP @JDVance during what should have been a friendly meeting, and @POTUS rightfully showed him the door. This is the leadership America has craved for four years.”
Democrats, Who Overwhelmingly Support Ukraine
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY)
- “Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy.”
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT)
- “My strong and passionate hope is that the talks can be resumed or restored, and this event won’t derail continued support.”
- “I have very strong hopes that the coalition we have in Congress — and it is a very strong bipartisan coalition — will be persuasive to the administration and others that we have a long-term national security interest in Ukraine prevailing over Putin’s brazen aggression.”
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN)
- “Answer to Vance: Zelenskyy has thanked our country over and over again both privately and publicly. And our country thanks HIM and the Ukrainian patriots who have stood up to a dictator, buried their own & stopped Putin from marching right into the rest of Europe. Shame on you.”
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT)
- “It was a planned ambush designed to embarrass President Zelenskyy in order to benefit Vladimir Putin. That was an embarrassment. That was an abomination. What you watched was American power being destroyed in the world as everybody watches President Trump become a lapdog for a brutal dictator in Moscow.”
The Fallout: What This Means for Ukraine’s Future in Congress
The political landscape in Washington is shifting in the aftermath of the Trump-Zelenskyy showdown.
- Republicans are hardening their stance on Ukraine
- Some GOP leaders who previously backed Ukraine are now siding with Trump and questioning future support.
- Others remain committed to Ukraine, but worry the public spectacle damaged U.S. credibility.
- Democrats see the exchange as proof of Trump’s alignment with Putin
- The meeting reinforced Democratic fears that Trump would push Ukraine into a lopsided peace deal favoring Russia.
- Expect increased Democratic pressure on Congress to pass military aid without Trump’s involvement.
- Future U.S. aid to Ukraine is now uncertain
- GOP opposition to Ukraine funding is growing, and Trump’s allies are celebrating his tough stance.
- Without strong bipartisan backing, U.S. military aid could be dramatically reduced or restructured.
- Europe may have to take on more responsibility
- European leaders are rallying around Ukraine, but can they fill the void if U.S. aid declines?
The next few weeks will determine whether Congress continues supporting Ukraine—or whether Trump’s confrontation signals a major shift in U.S. foreign policy.
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