President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with a reporter during his joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, pushing back against claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not be trusted to honor a ceasefire deal. Trump argued that Putin’s past actions stemmed from a lack of respect for former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
“What if? What if anything?” Trump snapped at the reporter. “What if a bomb drops on your head right now, okay?” He then insisted that Russia’s violations of agreements occurred under previous administrations but not under his leadership. “They broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect Obama. They respect me,” Trump stated.
Trump then pivoted to a broader criticism of U.S. foreign policy and the “Russia hoax,” accusing Democrats of falsely tying him and Putin to election interference. He slammed former intelligence officials and media outlets for spreading disinformation about Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop, which he argued was wrongly dismissed as Russian propaganda.
Throughout the press conference, Trump emphasized his belief that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is possible but warned Zelensky that continued U.S. support was not guaranteed. “You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out,” Trump told Zelensky. “And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out… but you don’t have the cards.”
Trump suggested that U.S. backing had strengthened Ukraine’s negotiating position but criticized Zelensky for lacking gratitude. “You’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing,” he remarked. The exchange underscored Trump’s shifting approach to the conflict, signaling a push for diplomacy over continued military aid.
