During a tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump commented, “This is going to be great television,” highlighting his focus on media perception amidst critical discussions about the fate of Ukraine and European security. Despite Zelensky’s media-savvy background, he didn’t assume the expected supplicant role. Trump, ever the performer, made sarcastic remarks about Zelensky’s attire and showcased disdain for collaborative dialogue. The meeting ended dramatically, with no press conference, as a swarm of journalists rushed to capture Zelensky leaving the White House, underscoring the performance-oriented nature of Trump’s presidency.
One of the most surreal moments during Friday’s Oval Office encounter between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine occurred right at the conclusion.
Once the shouting, saber-rattling, lecturing, pleading, and politicking subsided, the American president shifted slightly in his seat and made a remark.
“This is going to be great television,” he said. “I will say that.”
This statement was as shocking as it was distinctly Trumpian.
What had just transpired wasn’t an episode of “The Apprentice” but an incredibly high-stakes negotiation — one that could influence the lives of millions, the survival of a sovereign nation, and the stability of an entire continent — spiraling unexpectedly out of control.
For Mr. Trump, however, one thing that was always on his mind was the ratings. He seemed almost thrilled by the unfolding drama, as if he could sense the headlines of global newspapers being crafted in real time.
This is a person who has spent years shouting at people on television to earn a living. He is wired to interpret events in terms of “great television.” A conscious performer, he equates playacting as a tough guy on NBC on Thursday nights between 9 and 10 p.m. with asserting dominance over an ally on the world stage, even if he describes both performances using similar language.
Nonetheless, how one presents oneself in front of the cameras is critically significant in this administration.
Following the meeting, the president imitated Mr. Zelensky in front of the cameras, saying: “All of a sudden, he’s a big shot.” In situations where Mr. Trump is involved, there tends to be only space for one big shot.
The other European leaders who had visited Washington in recent weeks to discuss Russia understood this dynamic well. They were adept at playing their roles in the Oval Office while the cameras were rolling. At one point, President Emmanuel Macron of France literally held Mr. Trump’s hand. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented Mr. Trump with a letter from King Charles III for all to see. It was so well received that Mr. Trump waved the letter around again during their joint news conference.
It’s not as though Mr. Zelensky lacks skills in performative politics. Before becoming president, he was a television actor and has been proficient in utilizing the media to rally support. However, on Friday, he was evidently unwilling to adopt the role of a supplicant.
Things got off to a rocky start, as Mr. Trump appeared to believe that the Ukrainian leader was not suitably attired: he wasn’t in a suit. “He’s all dressed up today,” Mr. Trump quipped sarcastically as he welcomed him outside the West Wing.
Typically, in Trump’s theater, it is the journalist who plays the villain. The president frequently clashes with members of the media, with everyone knowing their respective roles. This time, however, the figure confronting him was another president — someone with his own aspirations and experience in engaging with the world’s cameras.
Vice President JD Vance informed Mr. Zelensky that it was “disrespectful” for him to “try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Yet so much of the Trump doctrine unfolds in front of the media. Ironically, it was Mr. Vance — once a best-selling author and media personality himself — who seemed particularly intent on sparking a confrontation while reporters were present.
Outside the White House, hundreds of journalists gathered for a news conference that would never materialize. When Mr. Trump declared it canceled, a swarm of cameras hastily shifted positions to capture the moment.
Mr. Zelensky exited the West Wing and entered the back of a black Chevrolet Suburban adorned with two small flags, one American, one Ukrainian. All the cameras slowly turned to follow as he drove away from the White House.