John Oliver has weighed in on Donald Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s clash at the White House on Friday, saying “the whole spectacle was awful.”
During the televised meeting, Trump called Zelenskyy “disrespectful” for not wanting to make a peace deal with Russia on his terms. Vice President JD Vance also urged Zelenskyy to thank Trump for his efforts, asking him: “Have you said thank you once this entire meeting?”
Despite the conversation going off the rails, Trump — in a nod to his reality TV roots –acknowledged, “This is gonna be great television, I will say that.”
But, according to Oliver, “that depends.”
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“Is watching the president shit on a weaker ally for not wanting to be conquered while his goon VP tries to see if he can wrap his lips around his boss’ arsehole from a neighboring couch good television?” the host said on a new episode of “Last Week Tonight” on Sunday. “I’d argue it’s more hit your TV with a hammer until the pain stops television, but reasonable people can disagree.”
Oliver continued, “The whole spectacle was awful. The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. had her head in her hands, Marco Rubio seemed to be actively trying to sink inside the couch and, for what it’s worth, Zelenskyy has thanked Americans and the U.S. 33 times at the very least, which feels like enough. He shouldn’t be constantly urged to say thank you — he’s a president in the middle of a war, not a toddler opening a present from Meemaw.”
Zelenskyy did take to social media after the meeting to reiterate his gratitude, writing on X on Saturday: “We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion.”
In an interview following the conversation, Trump said Zelenskyy has to say “I want to make peace,” adding: “He doesn’t have to stand there and say about Putin this, Putin that — all negative things.”
To that, Oliver said: “Yeah, what’s Putin ever done to Zelenskyy other than kill tens and thousands of people and cause untold damage to his country? Can’t he find anything good to say about him?”
Showing photos of Putin behind him, Oliver suggested, “Like how his cheeks are puffy like a couple of Hawaiian rolls, or like this horse definitely didn’t kill itself after this photoshoot. It’s not that hard to be nice.”
“Last Week Tonight” is available to stream on Max.
