Political Discussion and Commentary

I'm on the minority that thinks this wasn't a stunt. I think Trump wanted to sign the deal and then fuck them over, letting Russia do whatever they wanted as long and the minerals flowed to US.

So what happened? Trump is just an egotistical imbecile with the people and political skills of a rabid raccoon. He and JD aren't used if being called on their BS ("I thought the rules were you weren't going to fact check") and just lost it.

Zelensky stood his ground and morals, and likely was smelling foul play already.

America was publicly humiliated, not President Zelensky.

If you televise it you can claim it was all for show. Easier to back out of.

They didn't have to televise that part specifically, and Trump actually made a mention of 'why he's let this go on so long'. Trump thinks he knows how to make reality television xD.

This was all done to force Zelensky's capitulation to Trump's will, that's it. When that didn't work, he turned on the cameras and tried to make Zelensky look bad. Abyssmal failure, as are most of Trump's ideas.

Remember during the first Trump era when he was meeting international leaders and doing that stupid teenage douche power pull handshake?

It's a continuation of the same ideas. Trump has always inflated himself in similar ways in public settings and will do so until he is dead.

They're literally just schoolyard bullies that got voted in by other schoolyard bullies.

Because there is nothing quite so good for ratings as live, unscripted, dramatic political theater

It helps if you add that they let the Russian regime TV channel TASS in to livestream from the Oval Office as well.

They are imbecilic strongmen, they think they are all powerful and think doing this in public is proof of their superiority. It only proved the opposite, as we all know. Petulant children have more restraint.

Daddy Putin's express instructions is my guess. "You dress him down live or..."

You weren't convinced yet? Are you blind?

Ruzzian script demanded it like the other shit that's coming from that dumpsterfire of an "administration".

No more intel against ruzzia... You need to know more?

Your question already imply an answer: they wanted it to be on TV

To me the situation looks quite clear: people are calling up for more war and military spending, that's what governments ever wanted. People are getting fooled with a gimmick as simple as a scapegoat.

Trump wants peace now, and to buy economic ties between the US and Ukraine. He feels that US involvement and attention alone will be enough to keep Putin from attacking again, and prefers a quick settlement so he can parade around a success.

Zelensky believes that this is not the groundwork for lasting peace, and that there has to be even more egg on Putin's face from this war, to the point that he publicly regrets starting it. He wants Trump to condemn terrible actions by Putin, which Trump refuses to do because it will thwart any rapid peace deal.

I think each side thought the other would see things their way if they met, and that was never going to happen. Zelensky wants a victory because that is the only thing that will scare Russia away from trying again, and Trump wants a settlement because that will look the best for him, and be fastest. Without the same goals, they cannot see eye to eye.