What US lawmakers are saying about the White House clash between Trump
and Zelenskyy
[March 03, 2025]
WASHINGTON (AP) — Key Republicans and Democrats in
Congress have been stalwart supporters of Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, but the blowup between the Ukrainian leader and President
Donald Trump is threatening to change that.
Zelenskyy had traveled to Washington to sign a deal that would give the
U.S. access to its mineral riches as Trump attempts to pressure Ukraine
into a deal to end the war with Russia. Although support for Ukraine has
waned among GOP congressional members in the three years since Russia
invaded, key Republicans hoped the deal would revive American support
for Kyiv.
Instead, the fallout from a heated Oval Office exchange between Trump,
Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance has many Republicans — even those
who previously backed Ukraine — scolding Zelenskyy. For other GOP
lawmakers who have long criticized U.S. support for Ukraine, the
exchange was an opportunity to laud Trump for berating Ukraine's leader.
And for Democrats, it was proof that Trump is playing into the hands of
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here's what congressional lawmakers are saying as the future of Ukraine
hangs in the balance:
Republicans who have supported Ukraine in the past
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina:
Graham 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 SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON, Louisiana:
“The death and destruction of the Russian-provoked war needs to stop
immediately, and only our American President can put these two countries
on a path to lasting peace. President Zelenskyy needed to acknowledge
that, and accept the extraordinary mineral rights partnership proposal
that President Trump put on the table. What we witnessed in the Oval
Office today was an American President putting America first.”
REP. DON BACON, Nebraska:
“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, New York:
“Diplomacy is tough and often times 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.”
REP. BRIAN FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania:
“It was heartbreaking to witness the turn of events that transpired in
today's meeting regarding Ukraine's future. It is time to put
understandable emotions aside and come back to the negotiation table.”
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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters outside the West
Wing of the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP
Photo/Evan Vucci)
Republicans who are opposed to Ukraine aid
SEN. JOSH HAWLEY, Missouri:
“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, Utah:
“Thank you for standing up for OUR COUNTRY and putting America
first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!”
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas:
“Not another penny.”
REP. ANDY BIGGS, Arizona:
"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 as a party overwhelmingly support Ukraine
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, New York:
“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work. Senate Democrats will
never stop fighting for freedom and democracy.”
HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, New York:
“Today’s White House meeting with the President of Ukraine was
appalling and will only serve to further embolden Vladimir Putin, a
brutal dictator. The United States must not reward Russian
aggression and continue to appease Putin.”
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut:
“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, Minnesota:
“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, Connecticut:
“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.”
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