Nate Vance, the cousin of US Vice-President JD Vance, has publicly criticized both him and President Donald Trump for “belittling” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their recent Oval Office meeting. Nate, who volunteered with the Ukrainian military for three years after Russia’s invasion, expressed his disappointment in an interview with the BBC, emphasizing the need for decorum among political leaders, especially in front of cameras.
He previously stated that Trump and Vance were acting as “useful idiots” for Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding their approach to the conflict. After the meeting, which involved heated exchanges where Trump threatened to withdraw US support unless a deal was reached, Nate expressed he was “not happy” with how the situation was handled.
“Looking at that scenario, if it were any neutral issue and I saw White House officials belittling a foreign leader, I would think, ‘What the hell is going on?'” he remarked.
During the meeting, Vance criticized Zelensky for being “disrespectful” for discussing the conflict publicly and accused him of lacking gratitude toward the US for its support. However, Nate countered, highlighting Zelensky’s consistent acknowledgments of international support in his daily addresses.
Nate suggested that while Zelensky may not have shown sufficient deference to Trump, it is odd for Trump and JD to expect this when they have opposed his initiatives for years. After the meeting, Zelensky was asked to leave the White House, and a planned news conference was canceled.
Following the encounter, the Trump administration ceased military aid, satellite imagery, and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Nate remarked on the absurdity of criticizing Zelensky’s attire, noting that since the war began, Zelensky has opted for military-style clothing to express solidarity with his soldiers.
In an earlier interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Nate described his cousin as a “good guy” but deemed the meeting with Zelensky a “bad faith ambush.” He acknowledged that his stance might seem unusual for him as a lifelong Republican but stated that he felt strongly about the issue.
He predicted that about 20% of Americans would be “disheartened” by the incident, expressing concerns about the isolationist tendencies creeping into US politics, which historically led to conflicts like World War I and World War II.
Zelensky later described the exchange as “regrettable” and expressed a desire to move forward positively. The US administration is currently attempting to mediate between Russia and Ukraine in hopes of ending the ongoing conflict. Recently, Trump commented that he was “doing very well with Russia,” but found working with Ukraine to be “more difficult.”
Credit: BBC News
