Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of “The View,” strongly criticized the tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling it one of the most embarrassing exchanges she has ever witnessed.
During Monday’s broadcast of ABC’s talk show, Goldberg reacted to the heated discussion that unfolded between the two leaders, which was televised live on Friday. “You know, that has to be one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen,” she said.
She criticized Trump’s handling of the meeting, arguing that his confrontational approach with Zelensky was unnecessary and seemed more like a performance than a diplomatic discussion. “This is a leader of a sovereign nation, and you are doing theater with him because you’re trying to show that you’re the hard guy. But I don’t think anybody wanted you to be the hard guy,” she added.
Goldberg also speculated that many of Trump’s supporters might not have approved of his behavior, given how direct and confrontational the exchange was. She questioned whether Trump had considered how his actions reflected on the American people, particularly those who backed him. “I don’t think you asked anybody how they felt, how people who voted for you. You didn’t ask them how they feel about what you’re doing. You didn’t ask them if they want to be operatives of Putin’s government. You haven’t asked that,” she continued.
Her sharp criticism came in response to Trump’s harsh remarks toward Zelensky during their meeting, where he called the Ukrainian president “ungrateful” for U.S. assistance and suggested that he lacked leverage in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The controversy surrounding the meeting deepened on Monday when Trump announced a pause on U.S. aid to Ukraine, further escalating tensions between the two leaders as the war with Russia continues.