Trump meets Zelenskyy and Netanyahu At Graham Funeral Day
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A diplomatic revolving door at the White House — and suddenly the world appeared to turn slightly upside down. Trump meets Zelenskyy with unusual warmth, welcoming a president he once publicly berated in the Oval Office. Hours later, he received a prime minister who once could do little wrong in his eyes — but who has recently been subjected to a brutal dressing-down.
At the heart of Washington’s diplomatic marathon were the increasingly intertwined wars in Ukraine and Iran. At stake were Europe’s security and the stability of the global energy supply.
Meanwhile, Washington gathered at the National Cathedral to mourn Senator Lindsey Graham, who died at 71. His funeral became a global political stage.
Trump Meets Zelenskyy as Relations Thaw
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 48, was the first visitor at the White House.
Once treated as a villain by Trump and his supporters, Zelenskyy has suddenly emerged as a winner — particularly in the eyes of the U.S. president.
Trump has been impressed by Ukraine’s military successes, especially drone strikes on Moscow and other targets deep inside Russian territory.
At the same time, the president is hungry for a major foreign-policy triumph. His calculation: A stronger Ukraine could increase the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73, and force him toward a peace agreement. Zelenskyy is using the thaw in relations to push for additional Patriot air-defense systems, which Ukraine urgently needs.
“If Trump has received intelligence indicating that Russia is helping Iran carry out attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East, that would further strengthen Ukraine’s position,” foreign-policy expert Jonathan Cristol told America Report. Trump, however, said only that he would ask Putin “directly” whether the allegations were true.
Trump Turns His Fire on Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, came under pressure even before his meeting began. Netanyahu was once Trump’s closest international ally. But the stalled Iran war has driven a wedge between the two leaders.
Trump is reportedly still furious that “Bibi” drew him into the conflict with promises of a quick victory. Netanyahu’s effort to persuade Trump to return to a united war strategy therefore appeared almost impossible before he even entered the White House.
Trump complained: “He wants me to stay engaged in the war.”
When Netanyahu reportedly planned to present new intelligence about Iran’s underground nuclear facility at “Pickaxe Mountain,” Trump responded sharply: “I don’t need Bibi to tell me that.”
After the meeting, the White House said only that the two leaders had held a “productive conversation.” Notably, both meetings took place behind closed doors and without the press — a small setback for both visitors.
Two Wars Are Merging
The wars in Ukraine and Iran are becoming increasingly interconnected. On Saturday, Ukraine attacked an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea that was allegedly being used to transport weapons between Iran and Russia. Tehran quickly threatened retaliation.
The emotional center of the day, however, remained the memorial for Graham. The senator had been Trump’s most important “Ukraine whisperer” while also remaining one of Netanyahu’s staunchest supporters.
Zelenskyy and Netanyahu attended the funeral together. Graham’s political legacy brought the two crises together one final time.
The possible consequence of this historic day: Trump moving out of the Iran war — and into the role of peace broker in Ukraine?
