Psychological Head-On Collision: The Existential Stakes of Zelenskyy’s Gambit

Will the world see what he sacrificed to show us?

In the White House today, an event so disgraceful and beyond the bounds of normal civilization unfolded that I am, in a sad way, glad that it happened.

We saw from the nominal President and Vice President of the United States, a display of bullying, gaslighting, and provocation with the intent to draw a reaction unlike anything I’ve seen since 8th grade gym class, or GamerGate 8chan chat boards. It was in no way designed to be a “negotiation” or a discussion, it was designed to be an opportunity for the President of Ukraine, a former ally of the United States, to grovel for the scraps of a “peace deal” — as long as he signed a “mineral deal” to go with it.

And, most importantly, they wanted him to submit to Dear Leader in front of the cameras.

But Zelenskyy, faced with two of the most powerful people in the world attacking him in a foreign language, who have the fate of his country in their hands, refused to allow them to lie, refused to allow them to mischaracterize his people, and he never, not once, lost his cool. On the other hand, they did.

They baited him endlessly. Berated him. Told him how he should be grateful. JD Vance said he was “disrespectful” for fact-checking Trump about who started the war. At one point Zelenskyy was talking about Putin’s invasion of Crimea in 2014, and when Trump tried to correct him that it was “2015, actually” even JD Vance had to agree on the date, so Trump mumbled “Well, I wasn’t here then.” As if that makes it better.

Frustrated with his failure to rattle Zelenskyy, Trump tried to bully him, Mafia protection-style, right on camera: “Your country is in big trouble.”

It was brutal to watch and went on for over 30 minutes until Trump had a last spasm of rage that in any boardroom in America would have gotten the CEO taken out by security to a hospital. He was red-faced, incoherent and full of mis-channeled rage. “Hunter Biden” was yelled numerous times until it was finally brought to an end.

But while it was the most embarrassed I have ever been of my country, it was also one of the bravest performances by a world leader in history.

Zelenskyy knew what would happen. It’s why he never signed the mineral deal, despite the regime promising every day for more than a week that it was “imminent.” He let Trump and Vance show the world what America truly is now. Zelenskyy doesn’t have many cards to play but he is a historically good poker player and he proved it at the Main Table today.

Think about the rage he must have felt in these moments. Trump and Vance were trying to get him to break emotionally, and when they failed, simply crumbled themselves. Trump melted into “Hunter Biden! Russia hoax!” at the end because Zelenskyy is an actual leader with principles — and even with two-on-one being attacked in a foreign language, he behaved like a grown man in a room full of children.

So, while I am sickened and ashamed for America, at least we know there are still leaders with backbone in the world. As I wrote in my letter to Europe, my hope is that they will take this as a sign that they cannot rely on America anymore, and further, should consider us leader of a new Axis Powers. Europe should do these things immediately:

1. Kick America out of NATO and admit Ukraine.

2. Build an Army of Europe, including nukes.

3. Ban Musk and other related toxic Americans. Turn Tesla plants into weapons manufacturing for self-defense.

Here is the first test:

Lines are drawn. I know which side I’m on. Glory to Ukraine. 🇺🇦

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