What struck me most watching last Friday’s White House meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky was not when someone asked President Zelensky if he owned a suit – his casual attire deemed unbecoming of the White House – a directive apparently only applicable to wartime presidents and not to billionaires regularly briefing from the Oval Office.
Nor was it watching veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour’s face contort in anguish and horror as she watched what was unfolding in real time.
What got me was this one line from President Trump to President Zelensky:
‘You don’t hold any cards.’
President Trump has said this about – and directly to – President Zelensky.
Repeatedly.
He is accurate. In part.
President Zelensky does not hold the card of financial wealth.
He does not hold the card for political power.
He does not hold the card of strong military power.
You are right. He does not hold those cards.
But this is not a traditional art of the deal.
This is not a typical business transaction.
Nor is this strictly a financial negotiation.
This is ultimately a negotiation for humanity.
And in this negotiation?
President Zelensky does hold the card of courage to fight for democracy against tyranny.
He does hold the card for peace benefitting all democratic nations.
Most important of all?
President Zelensky does hold the card for the world’s opinion of you.
I love you America. I love you my American friends.
I love you Ukraine. I love you my Ukranian friends.
There are more cards in the deck.
Each one matters.
Please play with the full deck.
This is ultimately a negotiation for humanity.
– AoEA
#zelenskydoesholdcards #playwithafulldeck
