Democrats have been left aghast at President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s disgraceful meltdown towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Within the assembly, Trump defended Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, attacked Zelenskyy, reiterated that Ukraine is dropping the struggle, and rather more.
Democratic lawmakers rapidly responded, and Each day Kos has collected the feedback from lawmakers, governors, former ambassadors, presidential candidates and the Democratic Celebration itself.
“What we just witnessed between Donald Trump, JD Vance, and President Zelenskyy inside the White House was an ambush. It was a planned ambush designed to embarrass President Zelenskyy in order to benefit Vladimir Putin,” Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut mentioned in a video publish.
“It’s distressing to see that the president of the United States is walking away from our commitment in Ukraine, and doesn’t seem to understand what a murderous dictator Vladimir Putin is,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the highest Democrat on the Senate International Relations Committee, mentioned to reporters on Capitol Hill.
“The behavior of President Trump and Vice President Vance towards President Zelensky is shocking, disrespectful, and un-American,” mentioned Rep. Diana Degette, Democrat from Colorado. “Ukraine is defending its sovereignty against an aggressive adversary, and the United States must stand with Ukraine against Putin’s illegal invasion. Unfortunately, the only person happy about how this played out is Putin.”
“This was horrific. This was a tragedy and a tragedy for American national security interests,” mentioned former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul on MSNBC after the information broke.
“[T]he United States should be thanking President Zelenskyy for Ukraine’s heroic stand on the frontlines of democracy against the Russian war criminal,” mentioned Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, in an announcement. “Former President Ronald Reagan and the late Senator John McCain are rolling over in their graves at the thought of an American president sullying America’s image by siding at the U.N. with dictators in Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Nicaragua while disrespecting a true American ally—Ukraine.”
Some Democrats identified how historical past will choose Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who informed reporters after the assembly, “I have never been more proud of the president,” and known as Zelenskyy a foul “investment.”
“Today, I watched in horror as Trump and Vance shamefully echoed Kremlin propaganda to the leader of our ally, Ukraine,” Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the highest Democrat on the Home Judiciary Committee, wrote on X. “Their disgraceful attacks on Zelenskyy directly advanced Putin’s dangerous agenda and greatly harmed America’s credibility on the world stage. To my colleagues across the aisle: Will you continue to stand silent while your party’s leadership aligns itself with Putin? History will remember where you stood.”
The Democratic Celebration replied to a White Home publish and changed the American flag with a Russian flag, then crossed out the “America First” White Home caption with “Putin First.”
“This is not diplomacy. This is closer to a tantrum. Trump and Vance berating our allies like [Zelenskyy] while cozying up to dictators like Putin, is a disgrace but not a surprise,” mentioned Rep. LaMonica McIver, Democrat from New Jersey.
Former vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote on Bluesky:
“I have never witnessed such an embarrassing, pathetic, and shameful display from an American President and Vice President on the international stage,” mentioned Rep. Jerry Connolly of Virginia, the highest Democrat on the Home Oversight Committee. “The war in Ukraine is a battle between dictatorship and democracy. Between freedom and oppression. Between good and evil. There can no longer be any doubt—Donald Trump has chosen evil. He has abandoned our friends, betrayed our values, and taken the side of a brutal, authoritarian regime over a democracy-loving people.”
“President Trump’s simpering fealty to Vladimir Putin and Russia is embarrassing and dangerous,” mentioned Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
“Illinois stands with Ukraine, and so should the White House.”
“Absolute admiration for President Zelenskyy. The guy has balls. He went into the Oval Office and stood up to Russia’s best negotiators,” mentioned Rep. Eric Swalwell of California.
“President Trump and VP Vance’s treatment of President Zelenskyy doesn’t represent us as a nation and is disrespectful to Ukraine, our ally that Russia invaded. U.S. foreign policy should be about democratic values—not this twisted protection racket that Trump wants to run,” mentioned Michigan Sen. Gary Peters.
“What just happened in the Oval Office was an embarrassment,” wrote Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, who’s co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. “We’re a fundamentally different country than a few weeks ago and unrecognizable to our allies. For over a century, the United States has stood for Democracy. Today, Donald Trump chose the side of dictators. The world order that was established after the Second World War is dead.”
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned in a publish.
“Today President Trump shamefully supported violent dictator Vladimir Putin by humiliating the leader of our democratic ally, Ukraine, in the Oval Office,” mentioned Rep. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island. “Before today, America’s foreign policy always stood on the side of freedom, but now by siding with Putin, Trump is leading us into a dark and dangerous direction.”
“Watching President Trump disgracefully use the Oval Office to bully one of our strongest allies in front of the press was appalling. Ukraine is our friend, Russia is our enemy—this should be painfully obvious to anyone in a position of power who supports democracy,” Rep. Linda Sánchez of California mentioned in an announcement.
“I condemn President Trump and Vice President Vance’s behavior—and call upon each to publicly apologize to President Zelenskyy and to our ally Ukraine,” wrote Rep. Madeleine Dean, Democrat from Pennsylvania. “Instead of demonstrating leadership, they acted like two schoolyard bullies.”
“President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom and their lives, but Trump has chosen to turn his back on them in favor of cozying up to Russia,” wrote Rep. Paul Tonko of New York in an announcement. “Today’s farce of a meeting is a betrayal of not only our ally, but of American values.”
