Tensions flare as Zelensky, Vance clash in Oval Office spat
Polish journalist Marek Wałkuski shared a snippet of a conversation between J.D. Vance and a Fox News journalist on social media. The USA's Vice President explained that Volodymyr Zelensky was the first to attack him, and he attempted to "diffuse the tension."
The argument between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump occurred last Friday in the Oval Office. During the meeting, the President and Vice President of the USA reprimanded Zelensky in raised voices, accusing him of a lack of gratitude and respect toward the USA.
Vice President J.D. Vance on Fox News argued that it was Zelensky who attacked him first.
An argument in the Oval Office through the eyes of J.D. Vance. The Vice President of the USA argues that Zelensky was the first to attack him, and he tried to diffuse the situation—commented Polish correspondent, Marek Wałkuski, publishing a fragment of the Vice President's speech.
A Polish journalist asked a question, the president answered it. And then I answered it. And then, something about my answer just really set Zelensky off. So, then came at me, and then I went back at him. And what I tried to do originally was actually try to defuse the situation a little bit—J.D. Vance explained in the interview.
"So he's to blame himself," interjected the Fox News journalist, at which point the Vice President of the USA burst into laughter.
J.D. Vance recounted that he initially tried to ease the tension, suggesting they discuss the matter privately since a high-profile meeting with numerous cameras was approaching. Despite his repeated attempts to move the conversation behind closed doors, the President refused, insisting that the discussion should be public so Americans could witness it firsthand.
A flood of comments appeared under the recording shared by the Polish journalist.
"And that smirk. It's terrifying. To befriend dictators and ridicule the president of an attacked country," "It seems that J.D. is simply not cut out for this job," "They beat up a man while he's down in front of the whole world, and now they're explaining why"—we read in the comments.
We remind you that Marek Wałkuski's question concerned Trump's relations with Putin. "When I was a kid, I looked at the United States not only as a most powerful country, richest country in the world—the country that has great music, great movies, great muscle cars —but also as a force for good. Now I’m talking with my friends in Poland, and they are worried that you align yourself too much with Putin. What’s your message for them?"—Wałkuski asked the American President.
