Republicans cheer, Democrats condemn Trump's scolding of Zelenskyy

Lawmakers’ reaction to President Trump tearing into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy largely fell along party lines, with Republicans saying the tongue-lashing was a long time coming, while Democrats decried the unprecedented Oval Office spat as an embarrassment.

Sen. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, wrote on X that the angry exchange, which included harsh words from Vice President J.D. Vance, benefited Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Trump and Vance are doing Putin’s dirty work,” he wrote.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Democrat, defended Mr. Zelenskyy on X, saying the Ukrainian leader has been grateful for the billions in aid sent to Kyiv from Washington.

“Answer to Vance: Zelesnkyy has thanked our country over and over again both privately and publicly. And our country thanks HIM and the Ukrainian patriots who have stood up to a dictator, buried their own & stopped Putin from marching right into the rest of Europe. Shame on you,” she wrote.

Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, simply called the scene “an utter embarrassment for America.”

Republicans were more charitable to Mr. Trump.

“It’s about time we have leaders who say what the American people are really thinking and prioritize the core national interests of America. The American taxpayer is tapped out and President Trump and VP Vance are spot on,” wrote Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina questioned whether Mr. Zelenskyy is “redeemable” in the eyes of Americans. He said he told Ukraine’s leader to be grateful ahead of the meeting.

“The question is now for the Ukrainian people. I don’t know if Zelenskyy can ever get you where you want to go with the United States. Either he dramatically changes or you get someone new,” Mr. Graham told Fox News. “He’s going to have to fundamentally change or go.”

Dimitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security of Council of Russia since 2020, said on X that Mr. Trump was right.

“The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office,” he wrote of Mr. Zelenskyy, adding that “the Kyiv regime is gambling with WW III.”