John Oliver slams Trump for questioning Zelensky’s gratitude towards US: ‘He’s in the middle of a war’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: John Oliver did not hold back as he tore into President Donald Trump’s explosive meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During a chaotic White House sit-down on Friday, February 28, Trump blasted Zelensky as "disrespectful" for refusing to make peace with Russia on his terms. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance played hype-man, essentially demanding that Zelensky show some gratitude and asking, "Have you said thank you once this entire meeting?"

At one point, Trump leaned into his reality TV chops as he joked, "This is gonna be great television, I will say that." 

John Oliver rips into Donald Trump and JD Vance over WH showdown with Volodymyr Zelensky

John Oliver, however, wasn’t buying it. On 'Last Week Tonight' this Sunday, March 2, he offered a scathing response to Donald Trump and JD Vance, Variety reported.

"That depends. Is watching the president s**t 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’ a***hole from a neighboring couch good television? I’d argue it’s more hit-your-TV-with-a-hammer-until-the-pain-stops television, but reasonable people can disagree," Oliver said. 

Oliver then ripped into the whole debacle, calling it "awful" and pointing out that even those in the room couldn’t hide their second-hand embarrassment.

"The Ukrainian ambassador to the US had her head in her hands, Marco Rubio seemed to be actively trying to sink inside the couch, and, for what it’s worth, Zelensky has thanked Americans and the US 33 times at the very least, which feels like enough," Oliver continued.

"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," he added.

Zelensky posted on X (formerly Twitter) the next day: "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." 

Trump, however, wasn’t satisfied. In a post-meeting interview, he insisted that Zelensky needed to change his attitude. "He has to say ‘I want to make peace.’ He doesn’t have to stand there and say about Putin this, Putin that. All negative things." 

That set Oliver off again, who snapped back, "Yeah, what’s Putin ever done to Zelenskyy other than kill tens of thousands of people and cause untold damage to his country? Can’t he find anything good to say about him? 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."

Showdown between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky

It all began when Vice President JD Vance lectured Volodymyr Zelenskyy on "diplomacy."

The Ukrainian president immediately shut Vance down. "He killed our people, and he didn't exchange prisoners," he said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?"

Vance shot back, "I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now."

When Vance suggested that Ukraine has "manpower problems," Zelenskyy challenged him directly and pointed out that Vance had never even been to Ukraine.

But Vance doubled down, "I've actually watched and seen the stories. And I know what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr President."

He then accused Zelenskyy of being disrespectful to Trump. "Do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?" the vice president asked.

Zelenskyy argued that Americans don’t feel the full weight of the war because of the "nice ocean" separating the US from Russia’s aggression. "You may not feel it now," he warned, "But you will feel it in the future."

"Don't tell us what we're going to feel because you're in no position to dictate that," Trump snapped back, pointing his finger at Zelenskyy. "You're not in a good position."

"You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country—this country," Trump added, before concluding with a mob boss-style ultimatum.

"I've empowered you to be a tough guy. And I don't think you'd be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave, but you're either going to make a deal, or we're out, and if we're out, you'll fight it out," he declared.