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Trump directed his staff to take the Ukrainian delegation to the Roosevelt Room
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Washington DC - A hot mic caught President Donald Trump instructing his aides moments after a tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, revealing how the Ukrainian leader was swiftly escorted out of the White House.
According to the recording, Trump directed his staff to take the Ukrainian delegation to the Roosevelt Room—a space down the hall—where they were later informed that the president wanted Zelensky to leave the White House. "You’re right, maybe we should (INAUDIBLE). Let’s have a little something…" Trump was heard saying to an unidentified aide as the press cleared the room.
"Would you bring them to the Roosevelt Room?" he then instructed.
Trump cancels minerals deal after clashing with Zelensky
Trump reportedly canceled the signing of a critical minerals deal with Ukraine and ordered Zelensky’s removal after feeling "disrespected" by the Ukrainian president’s tone during their meeting.
Sources familiar with the meeting say it devolved into a shouting match, with Vice President J.D. Vance repeatedly demanding that Zelensky publicly thank Trump for U.S. military support in Ukraine’s war against Russia. Following the diplomatic fallout, Trump has paused U.S. assistance to Ukraine, seeking to pressure Zelensky into negotiations with Russia to end the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump slams Zelensky over war comments
Earlier on Monday, Trump criticized Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader suggested that a resolution to the war “is still very, very far away.”
Zelensky had attempted to offer a positive outlook on U.S.-Ukraine relations following last week’s White House meeting but acknowledged that a peace agreement would take time.
In a follow-up social media post, Zelensky did not directly respond to Trump’s comments but emphasized the need for “real, substantive diplomacy” to end the war as soon as possible.
"We need real peace, and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns," he wrote. "We lose our people. We need to stop the war and guarantee security."
Aid suspension sparks political backlash
During Zelensky’s visit, the Trump administration had been expected to finalize a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, partly as repayment for American aid. The White House had promoted the agreement as a way to strengthen long-term U.S.-Ukrainian relations. However, the sudden pause in aid has sparked strong criticism from Democrats, who argue the decision undermines U.S. national security.Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), co-chair of the Congressional EU Caucus, called Trump’s move “reckless, indefensible, and a direct threat to our national security.”
A White House official defended the decision, stating that Trump wants Zelensky to demonstrate a clear commitment to peace talks before receiving further U.S. support.
"We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," the official told the Associated Press. The order will remain in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine is genuinely committed to negotiations with Russia, the official added.
A repeat of Trump’s Ukraine controversy?
The halt in military aid comes nearly five years after Trump’s first impeachment, which stemmed from allegations that he withheld congressionally approved assistance to Ukraine in 2019 to pressure Zelensky into investigating Joe Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate.
As the 2024 election approaches, Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” if re-elected. However, his growing frustration with Zelensky contrasts with his longstanding admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has suggested could be trusted to maintain peace if a ceasefire is reached.
