The Trump-Zełenski meeting as a theater of the absurd. “As an American, I often feel like sinking into the ground.” [OPINIA]
The meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, which took place on Friday, October 17, deserves a broader comment. In my entire life – and I'm 73 years old – I have never seen more offensive behavior from an American president.
If today's America is “Animal Farm,” the White House fits that metaphor like a glove — with Trump, [wiceprezydentem] Vance, [sekretarzem obrony] Hegseth and [sekretarzem stanu] Rubio stars.
During the press conference, the president allowed himself to utter a profanity, and Vice President JD Vance found it funny. I'm sure his evangelical admirers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, saw this as a sign of “authenticity.”
President Zelensky, just like during the meeting in the Oval Office in February, looked like a lamb led to the slaughter. He was forced to praise the modern equivalent of Napoleon for his alleged efforts in the Middle East and suggest that Trump could use his “extraordinary leadership” to help Ukraine in the war.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during lunch with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Washington, United States, October 17, 2025AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL / PAP
I often wonder how Zelensky can do this with a straight facesince inside he's probably thinking: “what an idiot.” Zelensky is an actor, but also a man deeply concerned about his country. His body language and facial expressions are perfectly practiced.
As an American, I often feel like falling into the ground when I hear Trump speaking on the international stage.
His insults towards his predecessor, President Joe Biden, appear in almost every speech he makes. I don't recall Biden attacking his predecessor in a similar way — especially publicly, abroad. In a democracy it is valid some basic decency: at least in the international arena, other compatriots are not criticized, regardless of political differences. But Donald Trump is exactly like Napoleon from Animal Farm.
In addition, there are his narcissistic tirades with which he interrupts almost every speech. During cabinet meetings, his sycophants, like animals on a farm, stand up and applaud him with learned enthusiasm.
Trump, having failed in college and then “redeemed” thanks to his father's financial resources, as well as six or seven bankruptcies, should show at least a little humility.
Over 50 percent wealth he has acquired in the last eight months – thanks to practices that, to put it mildly, smack of corruption. Trump is the only US president to be impeached twice [impeachmentu]. And after the 2026 midterm elections, this could happen again.
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“Nothing prepared me for today's America.”
I was born and raised in the United States. My parents were immigrants, but after naturalization they became full citizens and voters. They were republicans. General [i były prezydent USA Dwight] Eisenhower was a war hero to them, even though they were displaced persons themselves. It was the troops led by him that freed my father from the German concentration camp.
Former President Eisenhower was also the guest of honor at one of the most important events of the Ukrainian diaspora in America – the 1963 unveiling of a statue of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in Washington.
Honestly, it was Nixon and Kissinger who finally cured me of my Republican beliefs. Still, I voted for various Republican candidates — some were better, others worse. It was the same with Democrats.
But nothing in the history I know or in my entire life has prepared me for the America we have today.
I still love Americans. It's not a matter of party colors – it's a matter of morals and ethics. And in my case – support for the Ukrainian nation, which defends good and justice against evil in the war with Russia. Good versus evil, righteousness versus wickedness, morality versus amorality—these are the topics that should really concern us.
President Trump often reduces the war in Ukraine to personal animosity between Zelensky and Putin, or even – as he claims – between Ukrainians and Russians. I hate hearing this because not only is it untrue, but it also exposes the primitivism of Donald Trump's logic.
I express my condolences to President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people who continue to face real problems and sacrifice their lives, while one of their potential allies is the vulgar, grotesque “Napoleon” currently residing in the White House.
Orwell perfectly understood the absurd mechanisms of totalitarianism. To the despair and anxiety of Ukrainians, Trump appears to have come straight out of the British writer's imagination – as a vivid warning against what we should avoid the most.
