In all my years, I’ve never before been ashamed to be an American, but Donald Trump’s and JD Vance’s performance in the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Friday was humiliating to all of us.
To our Ukrainian brethren in Chicago and worldwide, (most of) the rest of us stand with you. Please accept our apology for the behavior of our so-called leaders.
And Democrats, take note: Zelenskyy showed how to stand up to an autocrat. Time for you to do the same.
David R. Inman, Edgebrook
Why Zelenskyy doesn’t wear a suit
Maybe he wants to show he is different from some world leaders.
Maybe he wants to suggest to the men and women in his own country, where they are dying by the thousands, that he is working day and night for them; and that he doesn’t work from a beautiful office on a peaceful street where he can massage his ego by enjoying fine dining while toying with the lives of others.
Thomas J Shannon, Lincoln Park
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Embarrassed to be American
There have been three times in my life when I’ve been embarrassed to be an American. In the 1970s, it was with Richard Nixon and the Watergate hearings and his eventual resignation. In the 1980s, it was with Ronald Reagan and the Iran-Contra scandal. In the 1990s, it was with Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky. I thought that was the worst. He should have been removed from office.
But the diplomatic debacle of last Friday, and the way President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance acquitted themselves in public with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, was worse than the others put together. The anger alone on the part of Trump was dishonorable and condemnable, as well as disturbing. What foreign leaders will want to deal with America now after witnessing his fevered rants? Who will trust us? Am I the only one thinking of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution?
John Vukmirovich, Lemont
Trump, Vance just want peace
By now everyone agrees that the blow-up in the Oval Office was a disaster. But it doesn’t matter who was to blame. What matters is how the effects of that meeting will determine what happens to the war between Ukraine and Russia. As usual, everyone is lambasting Donald Trump and JD Vance, calling them puppets of Vladimir Putin and Putin lovers. They’re not. They only want peace, and peace will be achieved through diplomacy, but that is something President Volodymyr Zelenskyy doesn’t appear to want. He wants military support, NATO membership and, I’ll bet, the destruction of Russia.
Those who dislike how Trump and Vance spoke better understand that. Without diplomacy, as Trump stated, there will only be World War III and Ukraine want that also. In any negotiation, especially one to end a war, you have to talk to both sides. Trump is doing that. No one else has. They speak only to Zelenskyy. Diplomacy actually is listening to both sides then finding a suitable solution to the problem. Again, the Trump administration understands that. They are speaking with Putin and Russia because they believe in the old adage, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” By the way, I don’t see anyone else offering a way to peace. All I see is complaints against those working toward it.
Robert Stasch, O’Hare
Where Trump’s loyalties lie
President Donald Trump, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sitting next to him at the White House last Friday, said. “You see the hatred he’s got for Putin. That’s very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate. It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this.”
Imagine if Trump had been president in 1940 during the London Blitz and said the exact same garbage to Winston Churchill regarding Adolf Hitler.
Sometimes there are damn good reasons for hatred. Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people are heroes for freedom. Their hatred of Putin is more than justified just as Churchill’s and all freedom-loving people’s hatred of Hitler was 85 years ago.
Trump proves again where his loyalties lie. Amazing he said, “I hate Taylor Swift,” even though she did absolutely nothing to him except express support for his opponent. But after Putin invaded Ukraine three years ago Trump called him a “genius” and praised Putin’s actions as “wonderful.”
Kevin Coughlin, Evanston
A White House travesty
Last week I saw President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an Oval Office meeting speaking in measured tones in eloquent English — probably his third language after Ukrainian and Russian — and stating his negotiating posture. Well, at least he was trying. He was interrupted and belittled pretty constantly by “President” Donald Trump in his only language — barely English. “Belittled” is perhaps too elegant a verb for the word froth that Trump launched in no particular order. Uncharacteristically in attendance, Vice President JD Vance — himself a writer of fiction — chimed in from time to time, though “chimed” is perhaps too gentle a word, in whining fictional umbrage.
At least the travesty was blessedly short (as compared to one of Trump’s position speeches) and, as is written in the book the “president” so loves to peddle, the People’s House became the Tower of Babel. It may be time to paint the White House a less unsullied color.
Kevin Kann Libertyville’
Putin’s puppet show
Vlad pulls the strings, and Donnie dutifully dances. Vladimir Putin commands, “Dance, Donnie, dance!” And Donnie cowers, “Yes, master. I am your most humble servant, and I will fulfill your every wish! My dancing shoes will always be bright and shiny so that I may dance for your entertainment. I live only to serve you.”
This is our New World Order. God help us.
Bob Chimis, ELmwood Park