CNN‘s Christiane Amanpour was left gobsmacked following the Oval Office blow up between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
The two world leaders broke out in a shouting match during a press conference, leaving Ukraine‘s future in doubt as the country fights for its existence against Russian forces.
Shortly after tempers flared on all sides during the political showdown, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour hit out at the two for their behavior.
The veteran journalist, 67, appeared on Inside Politics alongside anchor Dana Bash and White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins when she made the remarks.
The British-Iranian journalist, who is the Chief International Anchor for the network, looked aghast and lost for words as Bash introduced her.
‘Look at her face’, Bash said as Amanpour shook her head and held her face in her hands.
‘Never in the history of modern diplomacy, war, peace, whatever, have I ever, ever, ever seen anything like it’, she said.
Amanpour added: ‘We just have to hope that for the safety of the free world and for the American people, for the European people, for the Ukrainian people, that these two presidents get out of breath and try to iron out their differences.’
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Amanpour appeared on Inside Politics alongside anchor Dana Bash and White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins shortly after the interaction between the two
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The two world leaders broke out in a shouting match in the Oval Office, leaving Ukraine ‘s future in doubt
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Her audio started to glitch out as she added: ‘It’s impossible to understand what is going to happen next. The only person who is benefiting from this is President Putin.’
Trump threatened to abandon Ukraine completely if Zelensky did not agree to his peace terms. He also accused Zelensky of not being grateful.
Zelensky held his own, even showing Trump photos he brought of the devastation to his country, and arguing he had thanked the American people.
The yelling match was unlike anything ever seen publicly in the Oval Office. And it played out on TV screens across the world.
‘You’re gambling with World War III,’ Trump bellowed Zelensky at one point.
Both men were tense and on the defensive as they repeatedly tried to talk over one another. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., seated to the side in the Oval Office, buried her face in her hands.
After the contentious meeting Trump announced he had asked Zelensky to leave.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote:. ‘It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved.
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Sources said the clash was unplanned, and that Zelensky should not have tangled with the VP inside the Oval Office
Zelensky abruptly leaves White House after heated meeting Trump
‘Because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE.
‘He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.’
After the cameras left the Oval Office, Zelensky went to a holding room in the West Wing. He and Trump did not meet again.
On Friday night Zelensky said he wanted Trump to be ‘more on our side’ and refused to apologize for the Oval Office incident in an interview with Fox News.
He was asked point blank by Bret Baier if he owed Trump an apology and twice filibustered before refusing and instead attempting to be gracious and added ‘I’m not sure we did something bad.’
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to apologize in his first major interview since his disaster brawl and public meltdown with Donald Trump and JD Vance
Trump to Zelensky ‘I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without US”
‘We’re thankful to Americans for all your support, you did a lot, I’m thankful to President Trump and Congress‘ bipartisan support. You helped us a lot from the very beginning, you helped us to survive. We are strategic partners.’
When asked again, he refused again and tried to explain his own position.
‘We have to be honest and we have to be direct with each other. Nobody wants to finish more than we because we are in this war, in this battle for freedom for our lives,’ he said.
He said he needs Trump to be ‘on the same side’ and needs him to stop Vladimir Putin.
‘I want President Trump to be more on our side,’ he said when Baier asked if he felt it was okay for Trump to be ‘in the middle’ of negotiations.
