I've been watching a lot of videos about the Trump / Zelensky meeting. That was a fiasco.
It is clear that neither understand diplomacy.
Trump has an ego that I am surprised fits in that room. And his foreign relations is very transactional, and is too focused on the finances, and does not acknowledge bigger goals, like spreading democracy. He also did not put himself in Zelensky's shoes. How would Trump feel if Russia or anyone seized a part of the U.S.? I am sure that he would not back down if the U.S. was attacked, just like Zelensky will not back down on defending his country.
Zelensky also messed up. He should have realized that Trump is very transactional, and has a huge ego, and arrived in a suit and played to his ego a bit. Thank him. Thank the United States. Thank the American people. Show appreciation. It is annoying, but that is how politics gets done, especially when dealing with leaders who have a big ego. You play to their ego.
I don't blame Zelensky for what happened, but it is clear he does not know how to "play the game" of foreign relations. Should he be required to kiss Trump's ass? No. Would it have been a good idea to eat some humble pie in this instance? I am not sure. Maybe. Depends on how badly he needed the U.S. aid. That doesn't make any of this right, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Plus, stuff like this should have been discussed in private, not at a press conference. That just made things worse. Normally politicians play nice for the camera and keep the disagreements off camera. But I think that it is good that everybody saw this. It gives us a glimpse of what is really going on.
