this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2025
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The American side deliberately orchestrated the confrontation during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House, Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the likely chancellor, said on March 3.

"It was not a spontaneous reaction to interventions by Zelensky, but obviously a manufactured escalation in this meeting in the Oval Office," Merz said at a press conference in Hamburg.

The visit was expected to mark the signing of a long-debated agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. on jointly developing Ukraine's mineral resources.

MBFC

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[–] [email protected] 222 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

It was blatantly obvious that it was planned, and good to see people calling it out.

[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It was my very first thought too. Well, second after what a complete twat JD Vance was. But it just seemed so oddly paced. Like I've never seen a conversation go like that it was so strange. It felt really contrived. Course it could be chalked up to insane immaturity too so idk.

I mean Trump's answer to what if Russia breaks the ceasefire was

What if the bomb drops on your head right now? OK, what if they broke it? I don’t know, they broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect Obama. They respect me."

So essentially his answer to what happens if they break the ceasefire was... they won't break it? But no, zelensky is the world's biggest asshole for wanting to know about securities.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Vance going on about how the goal is a ceasefire to end the war, Zelensky relying that ceasefires haven't been followed by Russia, and the Trump.and Vance going off on 'disrepect' was just wild. Like reality tv scripted argument level wild. Saturday Night Live parodied the meeting and the parody was toned down compared to the actual meeting!

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

After already being the worlds biggest asshole for not wearing a suit, he may as well ask for securities. For the millionth time. Although that’s only 2% of the deal and he doesn’t have the cards. But he has raw earth. I think I’ve said enough, except thank you.

/s

Watching zelensky die inside while contributing to this shitshow was hard. I can’t imagine how bad that poor guy must have felt. And I’m sure he’s already seen a lot of bad things.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago

The pain in his expression was the most relatable thing I've seen from a world leader possibly ever.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

It was like an episode of Veep except more obnoxious.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

JD did a pretty poor job with his acting debut.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (2 children)

You must have missed the donut shop "pop in"

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago
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[–] [email protected] 172 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I’m not the biggest fan of Merz by any means, but credit where it’s due - it’s fantastic that he specifically and unambiguously called this out on the geopolitical stage.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 1 month ago (2 children)

His stance on Ukraine and the European Union is the silver lining for me with the CDU win tbh. Things might actually improve on these topics over Olaf Scholz.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago

Right? I have been consistently underwhelmed at how… well, flaccid Scholz has been on the European leadership front. Dude comes off like he wants everything signed in triplicate before he’s willing to consider appointing a discussion board to evaluate possibility of thinking about making a decision.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Especially because he has always been a staunch atlanticist with a ton of connections in the US. That and the fact this comes from Germany, the most pro-US country, barring the UK, in Europe, gives his words extra gravitas.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Yeah Merz seems reasonable geopolitically speaking, and seems willing to make the hard choices. I'm not terribly sad about Scholz losing to him, especially as another GroKo is most likely to happen.

[–] [email protected] 127 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I thought it made Zelenskyy look good.

He was pleading for his people's protection, while calling the US out on it's bullshit.

Trump and co just looked like a bunch of dick heads.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Trump is a weak person's view of a strong person. It only looked good to those weak people.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

Daddy issues on a society-wide scale, ffs.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 month ago

It definitely increased the respect for Zelenskyy across the world.

[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

This was absolutely an ambush. Trump and Vance had a script and reactions ready to go, thinking they were going to get under Zelensky's skin, justifying Vance's angry reaction. But Zelensky stayed calm and reserved and Vance still has his angry outburst. Trump and Vance embarrassed the country, looking like toddlers screaming when they don't get their way.

And every Republican who backs this is vile scum, but that's to be expected from the GOP. Trump and Vance taking America to new lows every day and the GOP just doubling down on it.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Lets be honest here, Trump and Vance didn't orchestrate anything.

Putin did.

He wanted the weapons stopped, and he gave them a script.

Now the weapons have stopped as of a couple hours ago.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Just finally watched it, he actually deflected most of their accusations on the spot 💪 These guys are making deals, lying on their part and not giving a flying fuck on the very probable future events. All Trump got was that he is special, and that is why the truce will hold this time 🫨

Edit. I don't know what to make of this, they and everybody sure need peace, it is also bold to not see that card...

[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 month ago

It was obviously performative when Trump said, "you don't get to tell us what we're going to feel" when Zelensky said that the US will feel the effect of the war.

It's was after JD already escalated and Trump had to grab something to be a critical about, and that was the arbitrary point he decided to cling onto. He had to because JD upped the ante and Trump HAD to do something to keep up

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You could tell. Vance is an awful actor ..

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

👶 I'm going to be a bad ass today ! My pee pee feels funny just thinking about it. I'm so excited

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I blame the couch for that

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 month ago

No shit. They sat him down like a naughty schoolboy and took turns berating him into selling half his country to the yanks for no guarantees on stopping the Russians.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month ago

Trump and Vance aren't actors, it shows.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

Yeah I think that was pretty obvious. I mean they were clearly looking for an excuse to attack him. They chose the most inane metaphor they could have to take offense at. Just waiting for their opportunity.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago

His faithful MAGAts are probably waiting for him to tell other elected world leaders that they're fired. Just because it'll be funny to hear him say his catchphrase in his weird little voice. And that's as seriously as they'll take it until the lights go out and it's blighted poultry rations for dinner again.

Rotten state of things.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago

It looked like an episode of the Apprentice and a bad one at that

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