I am sure you were as flabbergasted as I was to see the extraordinary, unscripted scenes that unfolded in the White House yesterday.
Having been in the political arena for a few years now, I have witnessed high-stakes negotiations, fiery exchanges, and moments of political brinkmanship, but rarely have such outbursts played out so brazenly on the world stage.
The stakes could not be higher, and yet, we saw a disjointed, chaotic spectacle that will have only one true beneficiary—Vladimir Putin.
Let us not mince words. The impassioned and, frankly, crass display in the Oval Office was nothing short of an own goal for the West. Whatever one thinks of President Trump, Senator Vance, or President Zelensky, there is a fundamental truth here: leadership is about statesmanship, not showmanship.
Yesterday was the kind of public brawl that does not embolden democracy but instead weakens its very foundations. It was a spectacle unworthy of the weighty subjects at hand—war, security, and the survival of a sovereign nation.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson hit the nail on the head, saying: “It’s time for cool heads and to remember that the US and Ukraine are on the same side. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has led his people heroically for three years against completely unprovoked aggression from Russia.
“The bravery of the Ukrainians has been amazing. Their suffering has been appalling. It is they who deserve our support and they who frankly deserve our respect. The best way forward now is for the minerals deal to be signed as soon as possible. There is still a path to peace. Slava Ukraini!”
A moment of lucidity amid the madness. But this clear, unwavering truth did not prevent yesterday’s press conference from spiralling into what can only be described as an unedifying mess.
I’ve studied the entire footage and President Trump, for over half an hour, circled the same vague talking points, refusing to discuss security before a deal was struck. A deal? What deal? Was it about minerals? Was it about Putin? The ambiguity was baffling, the lack of clarity staggering. One was left wondering whether Trump was suggesting that if Ukraine simply stopped fighting, Putin would reciprocate. A theory so naïve that it is dangerous.
Zelensky, the man leading a nation in a desperate fight for survival, was left with no choice but to challenge the woolly rhetoric.
The President of Ukraine stood his ground, reminding the world that diplomacy has been tried before and that Putin has reneged on multiple agreements. Why would this time be different? And indeed, why should Ukraine be expected to stake its survival on another round of illusory promises?
All valid points and questions that needed answering.
The truth is that this entire event was mismanaged. Trump, ever the showman (and believe me, I am normally a big fan), seemed more interested in curating his legacy as a peacemaker than in engaging in the gritty, often uncomfortable, but wholly necessary reality of securing actual peace. And when pressed, it became glaringly obvious—he had no real answer.
Was this all a set-up? A stage managed to cast Zelensky as the obstacle to peace, the inconvenient figure who refused to play along with Trump’s vision? If so, it was a dangerous game to play. The brutal reality is that peace in Ukraine cannot come without security guarantees. Any notion that this war can end simply because Trump wishes it so is folly of the highest order.
The United States’ standing as a dependable ally has been shaken.
In the end, the consequences of this episode extend far beyond one press conference. The United States’ standing as a dependable ally has been shaken. The strength of NATO, already under strain, faces a new and deeply worrying fracture. Putin, watching from Moscow, must be struggling to suppress a smirk. He does not need to scheme when the West engages in self-inflicted wounds. He merely needs to wait as divisions deepen and resolve weakens.
And so, we in Britain—indeed, in Europe and the West—must ask ourselves urgent questions. Will we allow our defence capabilities to atrophy, remaining dependent on a wavering ally? Or will we rise to the challenge, re-industrialise, fortify our own military strength, and ensure that Ukraine receives the unwavering support it needs to fight not only for itself but for the very principle of national sovereignty?
This is no longer just about Ukraine. This is about the future of global security, the strength of our alliances, and whether we will allow an erratic diplomatic spectacle to shape the course of history. The world has changed. The question now is whether we are ready to rise to the challenge before us.
We must respond with purpose. With urgency. And, above all, with clarity. Keir Starmer is clearly not up to the task. We need Boris back.
Claire Bullivant
Main Image: Screengrab X
One day I believe there will be a public enquiry into the brexit war. How the EU funded a huge campaign to stop brexit. Talk about outside interference in our democracy. Mostly the war was about money. EU’s cash cow!