President Trump’s heated exchange with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy ignites strong reactions

CHICAGO – Reaction among politicians is pouring in after President Trump’s heated exchange with Ukraine President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.

Following the exchange, Trump ordered the Ukrainians to leave the White House without signing the minerals deal that brought them there designed to help the United States recoup some of what it’s spent to help Ukraine’s defense. A scheduled joint press conference was canceled after the exchange.

Trump later posted on his social media platform, “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Marta Farion, vice president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee Illinois Division, said the meeting was hard to watch.

“President Zelenskyy and the whole Ukrainian nation thanked the United States many, many times over and over for all the help the United States has given to Ukraine, but let’s face it, it’s Ukrainians who are giving their lives,” Farion said. “Nobody in the world wants peace more than the Ukrainians, but peace at what price? That is the questions. We can’t give away half of Ukraine to Russia just to stop the shooting because they will just re-arm and come back.”

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina), however, defended Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

“I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again. I think most Americans saw a guy they would not want to go into business with,” Graham said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois), who represents Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, sees Trump’s handling of the situation differently.

“He questions the legitimacy of Zelenskyy, who to me is more like Churchill, but he doesn’t question the legitimacy of Putin, who kills his rivals, who suppresses dissent,” Quigley said. “President Trump, you should be thanking Zelenskyy. Our best military people think Ukrainians are the ones giving up their blood, their young people to fight against our greatest threats.”

Quigley has visited Ukraine four times since Russia’s invasion, and he met with Ukrainian military leaders on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

“We’re fundamentally a different country than we were weeks ag and we’re fundamentally less safe. I don’t know who our allies are, but I’m certain that our allies don’t consider us one,” Quigley said.