Special Poll
President Trump appeared to walk back his recent harsh criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, just as the U.S. works toward brokering a deal to end the war between Kyiv and Moscow. However, his abrupt reversal has led some in the media to question his mental sharpness, with headlines speculating that Trump may be showing signs of cognitive decline.
During an Oval Office meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump downplayed his previous comments about Zelensky, including a recent social media post where he referred to the Ukrainian leader as a “dictator with elections.”
When asked by a reporter if he still stood by that characterization, Trump responded: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”
The remark quickly fueled media speculation, with some outlets suggesting the former president may be struggling with memory lapses. Critics seized on the moment, claiming it was another sign of inconsistency in Trump’s foreign policy stance.
Despite the apparent contradiction, Trump emphasized his willingness to work with Zelensky, stating, “We want to work with him, President Zelensky … and we will work with him. I think the president and I actually have had a very good relationship. It maybe got a little bit testy because we wanted to have a little bit of what the European nations had.”
Trump has repeatedly insisted that European nations provided Ukraine with aid in the form of a loan, while the U.S. supplied assistance without the expectation of repayment. Starmer, like French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the week, pushed back on Trump’s claim, clarifying that much of Europe’s support for Ukraine had been a “gift.”
Trump’s rhetoric toward Zelensky has intensified in recent days, coinciding with U.S. officials pushing for a resolution to the war. Last week, Trump caused a stir by calling Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and accusing him of doing a “terrible job.” He also suggested that Zelensky bore responsibility for the war’s outbreak and questioned the importance of including him in peace talks, claiming the Ukrainian leader “has no cards.”
The exchange comes as the war in Ukraine reaches its third anniversary. Russia’s full-scale invasion in February followed years of rising tensions, dating back to its 2014 annexation of Crimea. Now, with the U.S. and European allies pressing for a resolution, Trump’s shifting stance—and the media’s growing focus on his mental acuity—adds another layer of uncertainty to the ongoing negotiations.