Senator Lindsey Graham has publicly distanced himself from his long-standing support for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling for the Ukrainian leader’s resignation or a drastic change in his approach after a tense meeting with Donald Trump.
Graham, a vocal advocate for U.S. support of Ukraine’s fight against Russia, expressed his devastation following the fallout from the meeting, which took place in the White House on Friday.
Graham, who has visited Ukraine multiple times in recent years, had been one of the Republican Party’s strongest proponents for continued American support for the war effort.
However, after observing the confrontation between Zelensky and Trump, Graham warned that the Ukrainian president’s handling of the situation could have lasting repercussions for U.S.- Ukraine relations.
In an emotional interview with Fox News, Graham said, “Everything I and many others have been working for to establish a new relationship with the United States around our critical minerals deal was completely obliterated today.” He continued, “I warned Zelensky to be grateful to Trump when they met, but after what transpired, the question is: Is he redeemable in the eyes of Americans?”
Graham further criticized Zelensky’s actions, suggesting that the Ukrainian president should either step down or change his approach if he hopes to maintain U.S. support. “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” Graham stated.
Zelensky, in response to Graham’s call for his resignation, spoke with Fox News, saying, “I don’t know if he will be happy after my words. This decision can only be by the people of Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian president emphasized that it was not for Graham or anyone else to decide his political future, asserting, “Americans vote for American president, only Ukraine – with all respect to Lindsey – can vote for their president.”
The meeting itself had been tense, with President Trump initially cordial but growing increasingly frustrated with Zelensky’s demeanor. The situation escalated after Zelensky made remarks about U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was present at the meeting.
Trump, a staunch defender of Vance, was visibly annoyed and took issue with Zelensky’s behavior. White House officials later confirmed that the confrontation was not planned and that Zelensky’s behavior had caught many off guard.
Despite the drama inside the Oval Office, Trump appeared to relish the heated exchange, quipping, “This is going to be great television” as the meeting concluded. The clash became a national spectacle, with Vance defending U.S. interests and questioning Zelensky’s gratitude for American support. Zelensky, for his part, attempted to shift the conversation back to the war in Ukraine, but the exchange had already deteriorated into a public spat.
In the wake of the meeting, Graham praised both Trump and Vance for maintaining American-first principles throughout the confrontation, calling the meeting an “absolute, utter disaster” for Zelensky.
The fallout from the meeting, combined with Graham’s public criticism, could mark a significant turning point in U.S.- Ukraine relations, especially within Republican circles.
As tensions continue to simmer, it remains to be seen whether this confrontation will have lasting effects on the Ukrainian president’s ability to secure further support from the United States.