Trump-Zelenskyy rift deepens as GOP questions Ukrainian leader’s future

A dramatic confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office has escalated into calls from top Republicans for Zelenskyy’s resignation, threatening to upend U.S.-Ukraine relations at a critical juncture in the war with Russia.

The unprecedented public spat on Friday resulted in Zelenskyy leaving the White House without signing an anticipated preliminary pact on sharing Ukrainian mineral rights, a deal that had been months in the making.

“If they replace me, given what is going on, given the support, simply replacing me will not be simple,” Zelenskyy told British media in response to the growing pressure. “It’s not enough to just hold an election. You need to also not let me run. This will be a bit more difficult. Looks like you will have to negotiate with me.”

Zelenskyy added: “And I said that I am exchanging for NATO. Then I fulfilled my mission.”

Republicans have quickly mobilized against the Ukrainian leader following the contentious meeting.

National Security Advisor Waltz claims US needs leader that can ‘deal’

“We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war,” National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CNN.

“And if it becomes apparent that President Zelenskyy’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in this country, then I think we have a real issue.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this sentiment on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” saying, “Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country.”

Johnson characterized the mineral rights agreement as “a win for everyone” that would provide the United States access to rare earth minerals while offering Ukraine a level of security.

“They will effectively be in an economic partnership with us after that point, and we will always defend our interests and our investments,” he said. “Russia knows that. China knows that. Iran and North Korea know that.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., went further, telling reporters at the White House that the meeting was a “complete, utter disaster” and questioning whether the U.S. could “ever do business with Zelenskyy again.”

US House, including GOP sees some divide in Ukraine stance

Not all Republicans agree with these calls. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., pushed back, saying on “Meet the Press” that he was “not interested in calling on the resignation of other world leaders,” adding that such a move “would spiral Ukraine into chaos right now.”

Democrats have sharply criticized the Republican position. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called demands for Zelenskyy’s resignation a “horrific suggestion” and defended the Ukrainian president as “leading a country trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator.”

At the heart of the disagreement is Zelenskyy’s push for Ukraine to be granted NATO membership as part of any peace deal to end the war, a request the alliance has been reluctant to fulfill. Trump said in February that Ukraine can “forget about” joining NATO, noting, “I think that’s probably the reason the whole thing started.”

Russia cited potential Ukrainian membership in NATO as one justification for its invasion three years ago.

The diplomatic rupture comes as House Republicans passed a massive budget reconciliation bill that includes $2 trillion in spending cuts, while the Trump administration signals potential scrutiny of social welfare programs including Social Security, which Trump adviser Elon Musk recently characterized as a “Ponzi scheme.”