Zelenskyy names Abraham Lincoln as 'greatest US president,' says history will decide Trump's legacy
Laura Loomer: Who's the best president of the United States?
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 24, 2026
Zelensky: Lincoln.
Loomer: President Trump is going to watch this interview.
Zelensky: Trump is good, strong leader. He's the best or not, of course, history will answer.
Sometimes we live and we don't know,… pic.twitter.com/WHxKCyxdBG
WASHINGTON, DC: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Abraham Lincoln as the greatest US president before saying history would ultimately determine where President Donald Trump ranks among America's leaders during an interview with conservative commentator Laura Loomer.
The exchange came after Loomer asked Zelenskyy who he believed was the best president in US history. While praising Trump as a "good" and "strong" leader, Zelenskyy said it was too early to determine his place among America's presidents.
Why Zelenskyy called Abraham Lincoln the greatest US president
When asked by Loomer, "Who's the best president of the United States?", Zelenskyy replied simply, "Lincoln."
Loomer then pointed out, "President Trump is going to watch this interview."
Responding to the remark, Zelenskyy praised Trump as a "good" and "strong" leader but said it was too early to judge his place in history.
"Trump is good, strong leader. He's the best or not, of course, history will answer," Zelenskyy said.
He added that people's views of leaders often change with time.
"Sometimes we live and we don't know, sometimes we have monuments for somebody, and then we understand that it was not great person," he said, suggesting that historical perspective ultimately shapes a leader's legacy.
How Zelenskyy says his relationship with Trump has changed
The interview came as Zelenskyy recently said his relationship with Trump had changed "completely" following a private 15-20 minute meeting at the Vatican earlier this year.
Speaking about that meeting, Zelenskyy described it as a turning point after months of strained ties following their widely publicized Oval Office confrontation.
"We changed the relations during 15-20 minutes," Zelenskyy said, adding that the two leaders spoke without aides present and that "a lot of lives depend on such relations and dialogue."
Reports have also suggested Zelenskyy could travel to Washington in the coming days to attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral, with a meeting with Trump reportedly under discussion, although neither side has officially confirmed the format of the visit.
