Changing just a few words from the blow up at the Oval Office reveals the violence at the base of everything Trump.
Warning: This post deals with violence and abuse.
US President Donald Trump confronts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. February 28, 2025
“You’re so stupid.” Kick.
“If only you weren’t so dumb, I wouldn’t have to treat you this way.” Punch.
“You’re nothing without me.” Slap.
She’s curled on the floor, using her arms to cover her head.
“Say it,” he yells, grabbing a clump of her hair, “SAY. IT.”
The words in the Oval Office may have been different, but the essence is the same: an angry man terrorizing a person desperate for protection. A man who wants to break another human being, make them grovel, crumpled at his feet.
What if, I’ve been thinking, Zelensky was a woman?
The assault on the world stage must hurt survivors of violence in a way only a survivor can know. The US President, and his Vice President, berated the Ukrainian President, but they may as well have been holding a gun to any Ukrainians head. The threat is the same: you must submit. You must smile as I spit on you. You must do everything I say and give me everything I want. Or else.
Trump's hard-core, hard-hearted fans rejoice in his rage. In their own words, Trump is a pissed off daddy taking his belt off to administer a beating. Trump is a Dad who taunts his daughter: you’ve been a bad little girl, and you’re getting a vigorous spanking right now. Make daddy mad, and you're asking for it. It's his right to hurt you.
I've recast the heated scene at the Oval Office. Zelensky is a woman in a tense confrontation with her husband and her brother-in-law. I've made minor adjustments to the text. The script focusses on notable moments, edited and in the sequence in which they occurred.
Brother-in-law: “With respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come here to litigate this…You should be thanking your husband for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Wife: “Have you ever been to our house to see what problems we have?”
Brother-in-law: “I have been to ..”
Wife: “Come once. We have problems…”
Brother-in-law: “...And do you think that is respectful to come here and attack the person that is trying to prevent the destruction of your life?”
Wife: “First of all, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice position and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless...”
Husband: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell me what I’m going to feel. I’m trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell me what I’m going to feel.”
Wife: “I’m not telling you.”
Husband: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that. You are in no position to dictate what I’m going to feel. I’m going to feel very good.”
Wife: “You will feel…..”
Husband: “I am going to feel very good and very strong.”
Wife: “I am telling you. You will feel …..”
Husband: “You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position…”
Wife: “From the beginning…”
Husband: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With me, you start having cards.”
Wife: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Dear Husband. I’m very serious.”
Husband: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with your life. You’re gambling with World War III.”
Wife: “What are you speaking about?”
Husband: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to a husband, to this husband who has backed you far more than a lot of people said I should have.”
Brother-in-law: “Have you said thank you once?”
Wife: “A lot of times. Even today.”
Brother-in-law: “No, in this entire meeting.”
Wife: “No.”
Brother-in-law: “Offer some words of appreciation for your husband. Your husband who is trying to save….. (voice rising)
Wife: “Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly you can…”
Husband: “He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. You are in big trouble.”
Wife: “Can I answer…”
Husband: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. You are in big trouble.”
Wife: “I know. I know.”
Husband: “You’re not winning. You’re not winning this.”
Wife: “...Dear Husband. I’m staying strong. From the very beginning, I’ve been alone. And I am thankful. I said thanks.”
Husband: “If you didn’t have me, my money, this would have been over in two weeks.”
Brother-in-law: “Just say thank you.”
Wife: “I said a lot of times, thank you.”
Brother-in-law: “Accept that there are disagreements, and let’s solve those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in front of everyone when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.”
Husband: “.....But you see, I think it’s good for everyone to see what’s going on. I think it’s very important. That’s why I kept this going so long. You have to be thankful.”
Wife: “I’m thankful.”
Husband: “You don’t have the cards. You’re buried. You’re running low. It would be a damn good thing, and then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a settlement. I don’t want a settlement, I want to go, and I want this.’ Look, if you can get a settlement right now, I tell you, you take it so the bullets stop flying …”
Wife: “Of course I want to stop fighting. But I said to you, with guarantees.”
Husband: “Are you saying you don’t want a settlement? I want a settlement. Because you’ll get a settlement faster than a divorce….”
…You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With me, you have the cards, but without me, you don’t have any cards.
…you’re either going to make a deal or I’m out. And if I’m out, I don’t think it’s going to be pretty. But you don’t have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing.”
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Original transcript used for this post:
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