Those who are passionate about the cinema will remember the movie “The seven magnificent”, the 1960 wester with Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn and Horst Buchholz in the roles of a group of pistols employed to protect a small village of Mexico. The 2025 version, which premiered Monday evening, has Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Giorgia Meloni and Alexander Stubb in the role of politicians employed to protect Volodimir Zelenski from the leaders of the United States and Rusia. According to News.ro.
Unlike Zelenski's last visit (without European body guards) at the White House, no one was quarreled, but there were some strange moments. Politico presents some of them.
Black is the new black
In February, when he was first received in the Oval Office, Zelenski was quarreling because he did not wear a suit on such an important occasion. Then Trump welcomed the Ukrainian leader, who wore his characteristic military outfit, with a sarcastic remark: “You are very elegant today.” Trump wore his characteristic outfit, with a long tie.
Monday was quite different. “I like it,” Trump exclaimed when he greeted Zelenski, pointing to the black costume of the Ukrainian president.
“It's the best I have,” Zelenski replied.
The Ukrainian leader also had a replica for Brian Glenn, from the Real America's Voice network, favorable to the Maga movement. When Zelenski visited the Oval Office in February, Glenn quarreled on Zelenski for being dressed in a military style. “Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level of this country and you refuse to wear a suit,” Glenn told me.
This time, Glenn was full of praises for the elegant, black, Zelenski outfit, qualifying her “fabulous” and “wonderful”.
Trump intervened: “I said the same thing.” Turning to Zelenski, Trump added useful: “He is the one who attacked you last time.”
“I remember,” said Zelenski dry, stirring laughter in the room. “You wear the same costume,” he replied, addressing Glenn without hesitation. “You see, I changed. No,” Zelenski pointed out.
Video Trump – Zelenski, different atmosphere in the Oval Office. 4 x “thanks”, in 10 seconds / what they did not reveal
You are fantastic! Popular! Bronze!
At the beginning of the discussion at the round table, Trump was in a very generous disposition and addressed each EU leader a series of compliments, some more generous and better thought than others.
Referring to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said he is “a great gentleman, a great political leader in general.”
British prime minister Keir Starmer was described as a “friend” by Trump, who added: “People like him very much, you all like it.” This will be a surprise for many British voters, who do not shy away from saying that he does not like the Starmer at all, notes Polito.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, received unusual praise: “President Macron of France, who was with me from the beginning. I liked the first day and I like it more now. It is very good, it is unusual,” Trump continued, although there were some disagreements between them. Trump was probably referred to “from the beginning” in the sense that they both became state leaders in the same year, 2017.
Giorgia Meloni, from Italy, was described by Trump as an “inspiration” that served “more than others.” It is an ambiguous compliment, given that Italy has had 68 governments since World War II, comments the source.
About Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, Trump said, “Do you look better than I have ever seen you,” what raises the question: How often do these people meet? Stubb is a good golf player, so maybe they meet more often than I believe, notes with political humor.
Friedrich Merz, from Germany, was called “a very strong person”. Trump said, “He is my friend and it is an honor to have him as a friend,” after which the inevitable question followed: “Where do you have this bronze? I want to be so tan.” Certainly, someone produces the “Magic Bronze Merz lotion” in a Stuttgart factory right now, concludes Polito in the same ironic note.
And Ursula von der Leyen? “I think you are stronger than all these men at the table,” Trump said, before breaking the balloon he had just swollen, adding: “I don't know …”.
Every family, with ups and downs
Each summit must have a family photo, and this has been unusual, at least part of the height differences. Merz has 1.98 meters, and Meloni has 1.63 meters.
The height differences between leaders have made the photograph show that the first stages of designing a rollercoaster.
Also, Trump must have been upset because, with 1.9 meters, he is often the highest person in the room. Not here, where Rutte and Stubb have almost the same height as the US president, but Merz looks at everyone from above. Also, Macron, which is a little shorter than the Starmer, is only a little shorter than Trump in this image, which is either an optical illusion or the result of high heels, Politico comments.
A complete comment outside the subject
When Glenn, the reporter with a single above -mentioned suit, asked Trump about the correspondence vote, he was rebuked by the president because he asked a question “off the topic” (outside the subject n.red.). Which did not prevent it, of course, on Trump to continue to respond at large, if not in detail. He said that “you cannot have a true democracy with the vote by correspondence.”
Trump also accused Democrats of “transgender for everyone” and said that “they love crime”, although it was not clear if they referred to the fact that democrats love crime or that transgender people love crime. Or both.
Wait a little, to call Vadimir …
Trump said he would call Vladimir Putin after finishing the discussion with European leaders, but the call took place earlier, Trump interrupting his guests-and their dinner plans-to talk to the Russian president.
This has given the Europeans enough time to walk around the White House in search of emergency cheeseburgers, Ironically Polito comments.
