By Karrin Vasby Anderson
Journalists covering the Feb. 28, 2025, Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as a “jaw-dropping” “spectacle” and a “striking breach of Oval Office comity.” Slate’s Fred Kaplan asserted, “Nobody has ever seen anything like it.”
People shouldn’t have been surprised.
The Oval Office encounter was expected to be an on-camera meeting between the president and the Ukrainian head of state before the signing of a crucial minerals deal between the two countries that was meant to be a key step toward ending the war in Ukraine.
But as reporters described it, the initially routine meeting devolved into a “fiery exchange” in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance “berated” and “harangued” Zelenskyy after he pushed back on Vance’s assertion that Trump’s diplomatic skills would ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin would honor a ceasefire agreement.
Trump’s compulsion to dominate both allies and enemies seems to have caused him to jettison the negotiation the moment that Zelenskyy declined to perform subservient fealty. The meeting, which was ended by Trump with no agreement signed, illustrated why authoritarians are lousy dealmakers, particularly when autocratic instincts are exacerbated by what’s known as toxic masculinity.
Toxic masculinity is a version of masculinity that discourages empathy, expresses strength through dominance, normalizes violence against women and associates leadership with white patriarchy. It devalues behaviors considered to be “feminine” and suggests that the way to earn others’ respect is to accrue power and status.
As a communication scholar who studies gender and politics, I have written about Trump’s displays of toxic masculinity and authoritarian tendencies in a variety of situations, during and after his first presidential term.
Trump’s reaction to Zelenskyy in the Oval Office illustrates how these inclinations stymie the president’s purported dealmaking abilities, undermine democratic values and make the world a more dangerous place.
Diplomat, dealmaker or mafia don?
Trump staged the public Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy to showcase his ostensible prowess as – in his words – an “arbitrator” and “mediator.” Trump insisted during the first 40 minutes that “my whole life is deals” and asserted that he has what it takes to make Putin conform to a peace agreement with an embattled Ukraine.
Apparently eager to project a persona as a successful diplomat and powerful dealmaker, Trump rejected a reporter’s suggestion that “you align yourself too much with Putin” and not with democratic values.
Trump contended that in order to successfully negotiate, he couldn’t alienate either Putin or Zelenskyy. “If I didn’t align myself with both of them,” he said, “you’d never have a deal.” Instead, he claimed, “I’m aligned with the United States of America and for the good of the world. I’m aligned with the world.”
Vance initially echoed Trump’s message, casting Trump as a consummate diplomat and arguing, “What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy.”
But Vance’s tone shifted the moment Zelenskyy challenged Trump’s framing.
Zelenskyy provided historical examples of U.S. diplomatic failures and observed that Trump and other presidents had been unable to contain Putin. Vance responded by castigating Zelenskyy for not “thanking the president” and repeatedly instructed him to “say thank you” as the exchange grew more volatile.
Trump, seemingly angered after Vance pointed out Zelenskyy’s lack of deference, dropped his diplomatic tone and informed Zelenskyy: “You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
After the meeting, both the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and Slate’s Kaplan compared Trump to a mafia don. The Daily Beast writer David Rothkopf suggested he was more like “the Luca Brasi for mob boss Vladimir Putin,” invoking Don Corleone’s henchman in the movie “The Godfather.”
The comparison to famous fictional mafiosos was apt. As a scholar who studies both film and politics, I have observed how both fictionalized depictions of the mafia and MAGA Republicanism are deeply patriarchal and autocratic cultures that demand loyalty, breed abuse and foster corruption.
After Trump suspended negotiations, canceled lunch and expelled the Ukrainian delegation from the White House, Reuters reported that “most Republicans rallied behind Trump and Vance.”
Democrats, a few Republican outliers and the majority of European leaders backed Zelenskyy.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The art of the deal’s demise
Trump cemented his reputation as an accomplished dealmaker in the 1980s, when he published the largely ghostwritten New York Times bestseller “Trump: The Art of the Deal.”
Many of his supporters voted for Trump in 2016 because they wanted a “dealmaker in chief,” as one poll characterized it, who could get things done in a fractured Congress.
In his second term, despite having a Republican congressional majority, Trump has established himself as the nation’s sole authority, embracing toxic masculinity’s theory of power and respect. Doing an end run around Congress and flouting the law, Trump initiated scores of policy changes via executive order and asserted that neither lawmakers nor judges have the authority to challenge or constrain him.
Trump’s blow-up at Zelenskyy is much more than a foreign policy snafu. It’s a preview of what will happen when toxic masculinity drives U.S. foreign policy.
Toxic masculinity on the world stage
CBS Evening News
In his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy modeled a version of masculine strength characterized by empathy, discipline and mutual respect. Focusing on the needs of his people, Zelenskyy showed Trump pictures of Ukrainian prisoners of war abused in Russian custody and advocated for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
Trump initially acknowledged that Russian abuses were “tough stuff,” but concern for Ukrainians seems to have vanished after Zelenskyy politely challenged Trump.
Decrying Zelenskyy’s insufficient gratitude and escalating the conflict, Trump asserted: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
Vance similarly shifted focus from the needs of Ukrainian civilians to paying homage to Trump, demanding that Zelenskyy “offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
A common tactic employed by abusers is to demand that the person they are bullying show them gratitude.
In their berating, bullying and humiliation of Zelenskyy, the president and vice president used the language and rhetoric of abusers in an apparent attempt to try to force the proud and dignified leader of a country at war to grovel and get in line.
Their lack of discipline and decorum also upended the negotiation, jeopardizing a deal aimed at halting the fighting in Ukraine and advancing U.S. interests.
In my view, the toxic masculinity on display in the Oval Office on Feb. 28 was a bald demonstration of something new and alarming to a public accustomed to decorum and diplomacy in that formal setting.
For many, the enduring image of that meeting is an anxious Zelenskyy being hectored by a furious Trump.
But there’s another image that captures equally well the dynamic unfolding in the room. Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova sat in a chair just in front of the assembled members of the media. Papers held steady in her lap with one hand, the normally unflappable member of the diplomatic corps buried her head in her other hand, unable to even look at what was happening.
Karrin Vasby Anderson is Professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University.
Maria says
You want to support Ukraine so bad? Send them your money and your sons and daughters to fight. I stand with the only one fighting for peace, end of war and stopping the sensless deaths of people in the region. “Peace is not an easy prospect; it requires greater bravery than does conflict”- Zehner Explain why Zelenskyy wants to continue war rather than try to be brave for peace? Challenge: explain without invoking any refernce to our great President Trump, you know, the peace broker.
Thomas Hutson says
There was nothing Toxic Or Masculinity about either King or the Knuckle Dragger, they are both simply A- – holes, no class!
Stephen Playe says
Two big American bullies beat up a brave little kid in front of the whole school then sent him home to his burning house.
Skibum says
Ukranian President Zelenskyy is a true warrior, a combat president and leader of his country’s military troops engaged in the ongoing fight against the thuggish putin and his invasion of Ukrainian territory. Trump, on the other hand, is a fake bone spur crying, draft dodging coward and bully. All of America should voice their outrage and utter contempt for the disrespect that our despicable POS president and vp showed toward President Zelenskyy in the oval office the other day! Neither trump or vance deserve the respect or support of ANYONE in the U.S. for the blatant Russian appeasement they are trying to sugar coat as some form of “America first” nonsense. And that childish idiocy about Zelenskyy not being professionally dressed in a suit and tie while visiting the WH is preposterous when the idiot musk regularly takes over conversations even in the oval office and is ALWAYS casually, inappropriately dressed in a t-shirt and jeans wearing a ball cap but not one single word of critique is or has been uttered by the same fools who want us to believe that Zelenskyy, in a time of war for his country, is doing anything wrong by wearing his military clothing. The clown show by the buffoon-in-chief is getting REAL and putting our country and worldwide democracy in ever-increasing DANGER!
Ed P says
This was an overly simplistic view of the on going negations between Zelenskyy and the United States. The summary is myopic and conveniently over looked the last 3 years of dealing with Zelenskyy. The back story is an integral part in understanding what really happened on camera. Zelenskyy has not come to the realization that the war has to stop and doesn’t want peace. At least not yet.
Without trying to defend either side, I suggest anyone who will earnestly spend the time to ferret out the truth, not along party lines, will walk away with a different take on the event.
This is not about Russian Appeasement 2025 as other posters sing. The reality is that a protracted war is not an option. Mankind needs it to end. The possibility of this conflict spiraling into something much larger can not be ignored. The policy of “as long as it takes” is asinine.
Anyone who has ever been in a major negotiation understands that even in a good outcome with a settlement, each party may not be 100% happy. Those people who believe that Trump and Vance are wrong need to step back, edify yourselves and give this some time to play out. I’m not suggesting that some mistakes haven’t been or won’t still happen but if you believe that anyone can mediate any conflict by taking sides and isn’t willing to compromise, then you are wrong and the fool.
Michael J Cocchiola says
It is appalling the depths of degradation to which Trump, Vance, and Musk have dragged the U.S.A. Our former NATO allies to a country have unified with Ukraine. We are the outlier and decidedly on the wrong side of history and of the remaining democracies in this troubled world.
Which brings me to what remains of the old Republican Party. It is now the MAGA Party dedicated to Trump and his autocratic government. Republicans in Congress have abandoned democratic governance, the Constitution, and the rule of law, all to retain their jobs and their power. For the MAGA minions, it was an easy decision to support millionaires, billionaires, and a dictatorship. They want to be as wealthy, privileged, racist, and empowered as their heroes, and this is their only path forward.
I am not ashamed of America. I am ashamed of MAGAmerica (I have arbitrarily renamed America because why not?), and I fear for the future it is trying to inflict upon my daughters and granddaughter. I fear for our former allies who trusted us. I can only hope for another 2018 and 2020 when real Americans stood firmly for democracy and fought back with their votes.
RTC says
I think the Republican Party is in for a big surprise in the mid term electons in 2026. They will lose control of both the Senate and the House. I would be worrying about my job right now if I was one of them. Hopefully our country won’t be destroyed before then.
Lynne says
There are a number of issues with Trump’s performance during this incident, not the least of which is the public, face-to-face scolding of a fellow elected leader of another country.
And the comments about not wearing a suit: are African leaders berated for wearing their native dress to international events? Are they or Zelensky, for that matter, berated for their attire while addressing the United Nations?
And now, temporarily halting aid to Ukraine – how middle-school of Trump and his lapdog, Vance. It’s a case of I’ll take my marbles and go home.
Ronnie says
Trump proved to the world on Friday that he is working with Putin. What was shocking was to witness Rubio sitting there with the shock on his face yet too much of a coward to stand up to the US Constitution.
Trump and Musk are both working with Putin to destroy the USA brick by brick. Musk is firing all qualified employees in our government that keep our country safe. And he is shifting government contracts to make himself more money.
Today the tariffs kick in which means prices going up for the American people, European Allies no longer trust our government, and now the GOP Republicans are possibly going to shut down our government which means no social security checks for ever those that wear red hats.
Tell us again how Trump is helping the people of the USA?
NJ says
More KRAP from a SHIT4BRAINS Chinese Communist Party Asset! ChinaNews has found a perfect outlet in Flaglerlive. America First in today’s world is the only way to compete against China First, Russia First, Iran Fist,etc,etc! America is NOT the World Police: that should be the United Nations!
JW says
On the front page of Le Point a picture of Trump:
L’homme de Moscou.
So the cat is out of the bag. Not the Man of the Year but the Man of Moscow.
Jackson says
What should Zelensky be grateful for?–That Trump is willing to cave to ALL of Vlad’s demands? That he can keep all seized territory. That he pays no reparations, that sanctions be lifted on Russia. And what does Ukraine get?–They have to give away 50% of their mineral resources for some sort of “security guarantee” that Trump can’t even articulate.
Putin is getting EVERYTHING from Trump he could possibly want. Someone should introduce Trump to Neville Chamberlain for that is how he will be remembered. An Appeaser that lead to WW3
Al says
In response to a wasted education in communication. Is that really a degree or did the university make it up for idiots?
Anyway my response is simple BULLSH*T. Ukraine needs to want peace instead of a neverending war. They also have to quit trying to get American troops involved. The EU can send its children to die but I don’t want it to be ours.
Robjr says
A draft dodging rapist trying to lecture a warrior.
Only in America. lol.