Donald Trump became petulant towards Volodymyr Zelensky in a tense televised blowout in the Oval Office on Friday – and reaction across the world has been fierce
Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK should be cancelled following the Volodymyr Zelensky debacle, The Scottish Greens have said.
The US President held an bitter meeting with Mr Zelensky, the Ukraine leader, at the White House on Friday, which saw Mr Trump axe a planned joint press conference and turf out his counterpart.
The Republican flew into a fit of rage as he shouted at Mr Zelensky in front of reporters when it was hoped the pair would sign a deal on sharing Ukraine’s mineral riches and discuss a peace deal with Russia.
In the wake of the tense scenes, Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has called on Keir Starmer to rethink plans for Mr Trump’s state visit to the UK. The PM presented Mr Trump with the “unprecedented” invitation during his visit to the White House on Thursday.
Mr Harvie, co-leader of The Scottish Greens since 2008, said today: “The invitation for a state visit should never have been made in the first place, and it is time for it to be withdrawn. It must be obvious how much danger there is in it, both for Starmer’s government and for the country. All democratic leaders need to stand up to Trump and the toxic, hateful and authoritarian politics that he represents.”
In front of the world’s media on Friday, the US President, vice president JD Vance and Mr Zelensky frequently interrupted and spoke over each other in raised voices.
“You’re gambling with millions of people … You’re gambling with World War Three,” Mr Trump said. Discussions became strained over Mr Trump’s handling of peace talks. Mr Vance also accused the Ukrainian president of being “disrespectful” and claimed Mr Zelensky had not been thankful for US military support.
Plans for an agreement, which would have given the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for support, were left unsigned after the diplomatic visit was cut short.
Mr Harvie said Mr Zelensky carried himself with “self-respect and integrity” during the exchange. He said: “Only 24 hours ago Keir Starmer was fawning over Donald Trump and telling us how close their relationship was, but surely even he must see from the scenes this evening what a profound danger that friendship represents.”
Earlier this week, the Greens said the Republican president did not deserve a warm welcome in Scotland, and would likely be met with protests if he ventured. Mr Harvie said: “Donald Trump hasn’t changed.
“He is the same dangerous bully that he was yesterday, and he’s only going to get worse. It is wrong for Starmer and so many others to pretend otherwise.”
Mr Trump last visited Scotland in 2023, attending a ceremony to break ground on a second golf course at the Menie Estate near Aberdeen. The course is dedicated to his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, and is expected to open this summer.
The Aberdeenshire development proved controversial when it was first announced, with locals up in arms about the proposals, as well as Mr Trump’s opposition to an offshore windfarm visible from the property.
The family also owns Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire. Mr Harvie has clashed with the Trump family in the past, with the president’s son Eric once calling the Green a “national embarrassment”.
