Vice President J.D. Vance's "odd interjection" that sparked a shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump didn't earn any kudos from the Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board Friday evening.
Trump and Zelensky's heated argument stunned reporters and onlookers — even conservatives — during their meeting at the White House earlier in the day. The clash centered around several key issues, including peace negotiations.
But it was Vance's peculiar remark that caught the Journal's eye.
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The meeting "descended into recriminations" following an "odd interjection from Vice President JD Vance, who appeared to be defending Mr. Trump’s diplomacy, which Mr. Zelensky hadn’t challenged."
Zelensky recited previous peace deals that Putin ran afoul of and questioned what would change this time. Vance didn't take too kindly to the rebuttal.
"Mr. Vance unloaded on Mr. Zelensky—that he was 'disrespectful,' low on manpower, and gives visitors to Ukraine a 'propaganda' tour."
Trump then joined in on attacking Zelensky after the Ukrainian president suggested the U.S. will have to deal with the repercussions from the outcome in the invasion.
“Your country is in big trouble. You’re not winning,” Trump said.
But the Journal returned to Vance — and questioned his actions.
"Why did the Vice President try to provoke a public fight? Mr. Vance has been taking to his X.com account in what appears to be an effort to soften up the political ground for a Ukraine surrender, most recently writing off Mr. Putin’s brutal invasion as a mere ethnic rivalry. Mr. Vance dressed down Mr. Zelensky as if he were a child late for dinner. He claimed the Ukrainian hadn’t been grateful enough for U.S. aid, though he has thanked America countless times for its support," the editorial board wrote.
The board concluded: "This was not the behavior of a wannabe statesman."