en. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for arguing with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance during an explosive Oval Office meeting Friday, telling reporters Kyiv’s leader should consider his political future.
“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don’t know if we could ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham said outside the White House after Trump canceled a scheduled joint press conference with Zelensky and ordered him out of the executive mansion.
“I think most Americans saw a guy that they would not want to go in business with, the way he handled the meeting,” the South Carolina Republican added, describing the Ukrainian’s approach as “just over the top.”
“I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country,” Graham also said. “We want to be helpful.”
When asked if Zelensky should resign, Graham answered: “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”
Trump, 78, had told reporters on Thursday after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he anticipated “a very good meeting” with Zelensky.
“We’re going to get along really well, OK? We have a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for him,” the president said.
Graham said Friday that he had spoken with Zelensky that morning and told him “don’t take the bait. President Trump was in a very good mood last night.”
“He was terrible at Munich, Zelensky, and I think he has made it almost impossible to sell to the American people that he’s a good investment,” he went on.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed in an interview with Bloomberg Friday afternoon that the meeting was scheduled expressly to show “there was no daylight between the Americans and the Ukrainians.”
