Trump Crashes and Burns as Presser Falls Apart

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1:38Ben Meiselas:Weak, pathetic, grotesque. Just some of the words to describe Donald Trump yesterday during his meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine. Donald Trump revealing yet again what a Putin bootlicker he is. how Russia, Russia, Russia, Donald, is something that you prove every single day. So after Donald Trump refused to have anyone from his regime greet Zelensky at the airport when Zelensky landed, and Trump held his meeting with Zelensky on Sunday in the dining room of Mar-a-Lago as yet another sign of disrespect, where Donald Trump then kicked out the press and was like, why don't you get some food?

2:25Ben Meiselas:Get some food. Or are you going to say, if I tell you to get some food, it's a bribe. Then Donald Trump held a press conference with President Zelensky. And Donald Trump was saying things like Putin is so strong and powerful. And he said that he really wants to help Ukraine. And Putin discussed with me for two and a half hours, all of the great things he wants to do for Ukraine. He wants to trade with them and he wants to give them all of this energy and he wants to make Ukraine rich. Really, Donald, that's what you believe? Or are you just that big of a Putin bootlicker? I'll let our audience decide.

3:05Ben Meiselas:But let me show you during this press conference when Donald Trump was saying Putin really wants to help Ukraine. Watch President Zelensky, and you You got to give Zelensky a ton of credit for holding it together, remaining calm and confident while Trump was saying all of this. Although Zelensky could not even hide, though, how ridiculous some of these things that Donald Trump said were. Watch Zelensky's face. For those listening on audio only, Zelensky kind of like gives this odd glance and smirk at Donald Trump when Donald Trump says Putin wants to help. Here play this clip. So in your conversation with President Putin, did you discuss what responsibility Russia will have for any kind of reconstruction of Ukraine post an agreement?

3:49I did. I did. They're going to be helping. Russia is going to be helping. Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. Once it sounds a little strange, but I was explaining to the president, President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices. So a lot of a lot of good things came out of that call today, but they were in the works for two weeks with.

4:17Ben Meiselas:Let me just show that to you from another angle right here. Zelensky's reaction to Donald Trump saying Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed really after invading and engaging in a genocide. Sure, Donald. I mean, do you realize how stupid you sound? I mean, do you realize how pathetic and weak you sound? It's ridiculous. Here, play this clip. Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. Once it sounds a little strange, but I was explaining to the president, President Putin. Now, take a look right here at Zelensky's expression when Donald Trump claims that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if the 2020 election wasn't rigged.

5:00Ben Meiselas:I mean, just think about all of the lies and disinformation Donald Trump packs into the statement. Here he is. We're about to be in 2026. He's whining about the 2020 election and lying that he says it was a rigged election. No, Donald, you lost and you lost because the way you handled COVID because you said like a miracle it was all going to go away and all the other disasters you brought upon the country during your first reign of terror and atrocities. And watch Zelensky's face here. It's like, what are you talking about? And by the way, the stats show right now that Putin has escalated his attacks on Ukraine and civilian ballistic missile strikes and shy drone strikes since Trump's taken office by multiples.

5:44Ben Meiselas:Here, watch Zelensky's face here. Play this clip. If the election weren't rigged and stolen, 2020, you wouldn't have had this war. It would have never happened. And it didn't happen for four years, never was even thought to happen. And I spoke with President Putin. I got along with him very well, despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, which was a total hoax. So naturally, a reporter asks Donald Trump. So I mean, the whole point of these discussions, right, is will there be a ceasefire? So Ukraine has agreed that they'll actually be open to holding a referendum on potentially giving up territories in Eastern Ukraine, but it's got to be a vote, but there needs to be a 60 to 90 day ceasefire.

6:30Ben Meiselas:And let's be clear. Ukraine has always, always agreed to a ceasefire. And Russia has been the party that has not agreed to a ceasefire. And what Russia's out there saying, what Yuri Yushikov, what Kirill Dmitriyev, what Lavrov, What Putin, what they're all out there spewing is that a ceasefire actually causes war because war is peace in 1984. And that's the dystopian world that Trump and Russia inhabit. And that's what Russia is saying. We can't do a ceasefire because ceasefires cause war. And Donald Trump regurgitates that mouth vomit and spews it from his grotesque opening that sits on his orange blob of a face.

7:17Ben Meiselas:Here, play this clip. Does Russia agree or does Putin agree to a ceasefire to allow a referendum? Not a ceasefire. And that's one of the points that we're working on right now. No, not a ceasefire. He feels that, look, you know, they're fighting and to stop and then if they have to start again, which is a possibility, he doesn't want to be in that position. I understand that position. The president feels strongly about that or something. But I think we're finding ways that we can get around that. But I understand President Putin from that standpoint. You know, you have to understand the other side.

7:53And, you know, I'm on the side of peace. I'm on the side of stopping the war. So but I think that's that's a problem that's going to get solved. Yeah.

8:03Ben Meiselas:Then Donald Trump talks about how he spoke with Putin for two and a half hours. Actually, Donald Trump spoke with Putin twice yesterday, once before meeting with Zelensky and once after to coordinate the Russian position. And let's be clear, the United States is no ally of Ukraine, is no ally of Europe. The U.S. under the Trump regime is an ally, perhaps even a satellite nation of Putin, doing Putin's bidding. You have Europe, the coalition of the willing with Australia, japan canada and some other countries uh fighting for ukraine uk um while trump is on putin's side and that's very clear here's trump talking about two and a half hours that he spoke with putin he did it twice here play this clip it's no we look i was on the phone with him for almost i guess two and a half hours they're just telling me now it's a long time we discussed a lot of things we didn't talk about the weather we weren't talking about how what a beautiful day it is in palm beach florida So then here is another part of that disastrous press conference where Donald Trump threatens Ukraine with more Russian propaganda.

9:13Ben Meiselas:And Donald Trump says, you know, some of the land has already been taken. Land is up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of months and you're better off making a deal. Now, this is Putin's talking points right here where Putin lies to his population and says that he's taking over Kupayensk and other areas, which he has not taken over. And in fact, for Putin to get the areas of Eastern Ukraine, which he wants Ukraine to just turn over, it would cause over 1 million lives and five, six, seven, maybe even more years to be able to achieve that after more than a million to 2 million deaths of Russian soldiers and lots of people, the Institute of War, and others believe that Russia wouldn't be able to take that land.

10:01Ben Meiselas:That's why he wants it handed over, Putin does, to then launch more invasions against Kiev. Listen to what Putin is saying. Listen to what Lavrov are saying. Listen to what Yushikov and Dmitriyov and all the Russians are saying. They're saying they want to wipe Ukraine off the map. They're saying Ukraine is a fake country. They're saying that they need their special operation to fully succeed. That's what they call it. And Ukraine needs to be exterminated. There's no even inkling that they want a peace deal. Just listen to their words. But anyway, here's Trump threatening Zelensky play this clip.

10:37Some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months. And you're better off making a deal now. Look, let me.

10:51Ben Meiselas:And then Donald Trump's like, and you know, me and Putin, we've been through a lot together. We've been through Russia, Russia, Russia hoax together. And he'd called me and I'd say, can you believe they're making stuff up? So he would call you privately in calls that you never discuss publicly. And you would commiserate over Russia, Russia, Russia. You do realize what you're describing is colluding with Russia, that that is Russia, Russia, Russia. You do realize, like you do realize we saw you at Helsinki. We do realize during the campaign, we saw you say Russia if you're listening. And you're admitting here that you're doing Russia, Russia, Russia while you're denying.

11:35Ben Meiselas:Yeah, me and Putin, we talk about Russia, Russia, Russia all the time. This is what Donald Trump says here. Play this clip. President Putin today, I mean, he, he wants to see it happen. He wants to see it. He told me very strongly. I believe him. Don't forget we went through the Russia Russia Russia hooks together And he'd call me I'd call him I'd say can you believe the stuff that they're making up and it turned out we were right They made it all up and despite that we didn't get into wars or we didn't get into problems But we weren't able to trade very much or any of that which was a shame because you know a lot of Success could have been had by trading with Russia.

12:11They have great land great Minerals and other things and we have things that they want very badly but the Russia Russia Russia hoax which was a terrible made-up fictional thing by Crooked Hillary and by Adam Shifty Schiff and bad people sick people they made it up it was all a made-up hoax but it kept us really from dealing with Russia kept Russia dealing you know from dealing with us so but but despite that we got along and I don't know I think we're going to get there. I know I know him very well. I think we're going to get there.

12:48Ben Meiselas:I'll pull out the receipts. This was Trump nine years ago, more maybe nine years ago or more at Helsinki. Remember what Trump said that he trusts Putin over the United States intelligence agencies. Play this clip. I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. And what he did is an incredible offer. He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer. Okay. Thank you. Or how about during the campaign where Donald Trump said, Russia, if you're listening, if you're listening, Russia, here, play this clip right here.

13:26Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30 ,000 emails that are missing.

13:35Ben Meiselas:Next, Donald Trump is asked, what's your message to the family members of the more than 100 Americans who died on the Ukrainian battlefield. Trump can't even say thank you for your service. Here's what he says. He goes, it's just a shame to die in foreign countries. Here, play this clip. Mr. President, you're saying that you've said multiple times that you want to stop the killing and nearly 100 American citizens died in Ukraine on the battlefield. What's your message to their family whose loved ones died fighting? Well, look, I mean, the message is so obvious. It's What a shame. They died in a country, a foreign country.

14:17And some are celebrated people. They're very celebrated, but so sad that a thing like that would happen. Yes, ma 'am. Obviously, security is a major issue for the.

14:28Ben Meiselas:As you know, earlier today, Donald Trump posted the message. I just had a good and very productive phone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting with Zelensky of Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mara Lago. Kiev independent reporter Ilya Pomarenko writes, isn't this beautiful? This is the rahe he's being sarcastic. A ceasefire is a way to war. War is a way to peace. Orwell is just mass producing electricity in his grave right now. Here's the statement from Yushikov, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yushikov. Putin and Trump think the temporary ceasefire proposed by the EU and Ukraine will lead to a prolongation of the conflict.

15:12Ben Meiselas:Take a look right here. Michael Weiss did some great reporting on this. This is the Kremlin readout of Trump's call with Putin. This is what they're saying happened in Russia. Putin held a telephone conversation with Trump. Here are the key points from Yushikov's statement. The Russian president agreed with Trump's proposal to continue to work on the settlement within the framework of specially created working groups. The parameters of the working groups on Ukraine will be announced in early January. The American leader stated the need to end the war as quickly as possible. Putin and Trump hold broadly similar views that a temporary ceasefire will only prolong the conflict in Ukraine.

15:55Ben Meiselas:So Russia is saying that Trump told Putin that a temporary ceasefire will prolong the conflict in Ukraine. Trump called Putin to discuss the Ukrainian settlement before meeting Zelensky. In Russia, they're also saying Trump initiated the call, not Putin calling Trump. The parties agreed to talk again by phone about the results of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky. So Trump's the one who's calling Putin, according to Russia. And Trump's never rebutted that. It makes sense for Kiev to make decisions on Donbass without delay, taking into account the developing situation on the front lines. This is more Russian propaganda.

16:36Ben Meiselas:What Russia is saying that they told Trump, and this is what Trump was regurgitating, is that Ukraine needs to give up all of Donbass because Russia is lying and saying that they're making rapid advances on the front lines, which is not true. Trump admitted that the Ukrainian conflict was the most difficult one for him. The U.S. president listened carefully to Russia's assessment of the prospects of reaching an agreement. The conversation with Putin was organized at Trump's initiative to finally end hostilities. A responsible decision is required from Kiev. In a conversation with Trump, the Russian leader stated the importance of continuing to focus on the understandings reached in Anchorage.

17:20Ben Meiselas:So what else was going on in those conversations about forcing Ukraine to surrender. Trump spoke of impressive prospects of U.S. economic cooperation with Russia. If the conflict in Ukraine ends, the parties exchanged New Year's greetings and wished happiness to the people of the Russian Federation and the United States. Have you heard of anything more weaker and pathetic than that? And let me just contrast Donald Trump's discussions with Zelensky compared to Prime Minister Carney's discussions with Zelensky. Trump's Lensky, I showed you. Here's Carney and Zelensky. Let's play this clip right here.

18:02Welcome. Thank you for taking this time at a crucial moment in this process. Under President Zelensky's leadership, we have the conditions, the possibility of a just and lasting peace. But that requires a willing Russia. And the barbarism that we saw overnight, the attack on Kyiv, shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine during this difficult time, and that we create the conditions for this just and lasting peace in a true reconstruction. And I want to underscore something that has happened in recent weeks is that the development of that possibility under your leadership and also the prospect of true prosperity for the Ukrainian people.

18:56I'll just finish with one point on Canada. We've provided military assistance, further military assistance. We're announcing today further economic assistance for Ukraine,$2.5 billion worth of economic assistance that helps unlock financing from the IMF, from the World Bank, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to begin this process of rebuilding. We have an important bilateral meeting and then a meeting virtually with our colleagues from the Coalition of the Willing Need TVOHA. up.

19:34Ben Meiselas:There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to six million subscribers. And thank you so much for watching. Hey, Midas Mighty, it's Ben, Brett, and Jordi, and we just want to thank you for being the backbone of this movement. This year tested us more than ever, but together we proved that pro-democracy voices don't just compete, we win. We took on the entire MAGA machine, won a Webby for Podcast of the Year. The Midas Touch podcast. And you were with us every step of the way. And trust us, what we're working on next is bigger, bolder and built for 2026. Let's keep this momentum going.

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