Fact Check: Did Volodymyr Zelensky use an expletive against Donald Trump outside 10 Downing Street?
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: A viral video circulating on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used an expletive against President Donald Trump just before greeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing Street.
The video suggests that Zelensky said either "F*** him" or "F*** Trump" to reporters as he walked to meet Starmer.
Zelensky burning a very big bridge. pic.twitter.com/5iYwRfpbGX
— A Man Of Memes (@RickyDoggin) March 2, 2025
Fact Check: Viral claim of Volodymyr Zelensky swearing at Donald Trump is false
On checking the original footage, the claim of Volodymyr Zelensky using an expletive against Donald Trump appears to be false.
In the unedited version of the video, which captures the same moment, an unidentified reporter asked, "Mr President, how was the trip? How do you feel?" to which Zelensky replied, "Ok. Thank you so much."
President #Zelensky arrived at Downing Street. He is meeting PM @Keir_Starmer. #Ukraine #UK pic.twitter.com/cyyvtxZtED
— Alexander Seale (@AlexSeale) March 1, 2025
No expletives were used in the exchange, and there is no indication that Zelensky made any derogatory comment about Trump.
The false claim is believed to have originated from a manipulated video. The TikTok post, uploaded by user @daily.uk.news4 on March 2, featured the misleading caption: "Breaking News: 'F* Him!' - Zelensky's Unfiltered Response to Trump Caught on Camera Before Downing Street Talks."
@daily.uk.news4 Zelensky’s Explosive ‘F Him’ Moment: A Diplomatic Crisis Unfolds Breaking News: A diplomatic firestorm has erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was caught on camera delivering an unfiltered response to Donald Trump. As he arrived at 10 Downing Street for high-stakes talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a reporter asked about Trump’s latest remarks on Ukraine. Zelensky, smirking, muttered just loud enough to be heard: “F him.”* The clip has since gone viral, sending shockwaves across global politics. This comes after a disastrous Washington meeting where Trump accused Ukraine of “gambling with World War Three” and cast doubt on continued US support. Now, with tensions at an all-time high, European leaders are stepping in to contain the fallout. Inside No. 10, Starmer reaffirmed the UK's unwavering commitment to Ukraine, stating, “We stand with Ukraine. We will not waver.” But beyond diplomacy, all eyes are now on Trump. Will he fire back, escalating the divide? Or has this moment fundamentally shifted global alliances? With a major European summit scheduled tomorrow, the world waits to see how this confrontation will shape the future of Western support for Ukraine. Stay tuned. #breakingnews #uknews #zelensky #Trump #ukrainewar #ukpolitics #keirstarmer #diplomaticcrisis #usukrelations #geopolitics #globaltensions
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The narration and text in the video were likely generated using artificial intelligence (AI), as indicated by an AI-detection website, which confirmed a "100 percent" match with AI content.
The video also contained dramatic, fabricated statements, including the claim that Zelensky muttered "F him" in response to Trump's remarks about Ukraine, the fact-checking website Snopes reported.
Despite the fabricated nature of the video, the claim quickly spread across social media platforms.
The TikTok video was later shared by a user with more than 1.6 million followers on X, with the caption: "Zelensky says, 'f*** Trump' to a reporter on his way to a meeting in the UK." This post garnered millions of views, further amplifying the false rumor.
Keir Starmer reiterated the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine after meeting Volodymyr Zelensky
On March 1, Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During their meeting, Starmer reiterated the UK's strong support for Ukraine, saying, "We stand with you, with Ukraine, for as long as it may take," in the wake of Zelensky and Donald Trump's White House dispute.
Zelensky and Starmer also signed a $2.84 billion (£2.26 billion) loan deal for Ukrainian military supplies.
The viral video doesn't reflect the actual exchange between Zelensky and the reporter.
This incident is just one of many false claims that have circulated about Zelensky since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As misinformation continues to spread rapidly online, it remains a significant challenge for public figures like Zelensky to maintain control over their image and narrative.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
