Waltz compares Zelenskyy to 'ex-girlfriend' following explosive White House meeting

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz compared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s actions in the Oval office to that of an “ex-girlfriend” following a tense, public meeting that has put the future of America’s support of the war-beleaguered nation in question.

Mr. Zelenskyy and President Trump’s meeting on Friday erupted into a shouting match that played out in front of journalists and cameras. Once the meeting ended, Mr. Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were tasked with asking the Ukrainian president to leave the White House.

In an interview with Breitbart Radio on Saturday, Mr. Waltz recounted the event and said that Mr. Zelenskyy had “blew it.” 

“He’s clearly solely focused on believing he needs to fact check and correct every nuance,” Mr. Waltz said. “It’s like an ex-girlfriend that wants to argue everything that you said nine years ago, rather than moving the relationship forward.”

The Ukrainian leader was in Washington to sign a minerals agreement that would have allowed the U.S. to obtain rights to Ukrainian deposits of rare earth minerals and other resources as repayment for America’s support for Ukraine in the war.

But the deal went unsigned after Mr. Trump, Mr. Zelenskyy and Vice President J.D. Vance got into a heated discussion over the nature of what exactly a diplomatic end to the conflict with Russia would look like. 

Mr. Trump demanded that his Ukrainian counterpart be more grateful for the help America has provided. In a tense exchange, Mr. Trump warned that Mr. Zelenskyy didn’t have the means to continue fighting against Russia, and unless he agreed to a ceasefire, the U.S. would be “out.” 

Several Republicans agreed that Mr. Zelenskyy’s display in the White House was disrespectful and lauded Mr. Trump for his actions. Mr. Waltz did the same, and said that both he and Mr. Rubio had worked hard to get the minerals agreement ready. 

Even a longtime supporter of Mr. Zelenskyy’s, Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, suggested that there should be a regime change in Ukraine following the tense meeting. 

Mr. Waltz did not fully commit to that idea, but did not shoot it down, either. He questioned whether Mr. Zelenskyy was the leader “that can lead the country into this next phase and restore stability.”

“Look, if his interests are divergent, personal interests, which I believe he was playing to his base back home, rather than stopping the killing and stopping the destruction of his country, then clearly, I mean, Senator Graham is on to something,” he said.