Ben Rhodes

Yeah, I think that like like by any measure, like. Tactically, you don't get into a fight with J.D. Vance in the Oval Office. You don't allow yourself to be humiliated by the President of the United States to that extent. But I'm not saying this to give him credit because I don't think it was a strategy. I think the utility in it is we know what we're dealing with now, right?

Yeah, I think that like like by any measure, like. Tactically, you don't get into a fight with J.D. Vance in the Oval Office. You don't allow yourself to be humiliated by the President of the United States to that extent. But I'm not saying this to give him credit because I don't think it was a strategy. I think the utility in it is we know what we're dealing with now, right?

Like we have the Hegseth like laying down of terms without consulting Ukraine and Europe in which they surrender all their territory and can't be NATO. We have the JD Van speech in Munich endorsing the European far right. We've got Trump calling Zelensky dictator. And now we have this.

Like we have the Hegseth like laying down of terms without consulting Ukraine and Europe in which they surrender all their territory and can't be NATO. We have the JD Van speech in Munich endorsing the European far right. We've got Trump calling Zelensky dictator. And now we have this.

Like we have the Hegseth like laying down of terms without consulting Ukraine and Europe in which they surrender all their territory and can't be NATO. We have the JD Van speech in Munich endorsing the European far right. We've got Trump calling Zelensky dictator. And now we have this.

And so there can be a new illusions that somehow some committee to save America is going to or Marco Rubio or whoever or Lindsey Graham's going to the Oval Office and convince Trump to suddenly get tough on the Russians. Like, so I'm not saying that Zelensky was like playing some chess and, you know, outed this.

And so there can be a new illusions that somehow some committee to save America is going to or Marco Rubio or whoever or Lindsey Graham's going to the Oval Office and convince Trump to suddenly get tough on the Russians. Like, so I'm not saying that Zelensky was like playing some chess and, you know, outed this.

And so there can be a new illusions that somehow some committee to save America is going to or Marco Rubio or whoever or Lindsey Graham's going to the Oval Office and convince Trump to suddenly get tough on the Russians. Like, so I'm not saying that Zelensky was like playing some chess and, you know, outed this.

I'm saying he messed up by getting baited into this, but there may be something worthwhile that comes out of just clarifying, okay, this is actually where we are. And I can tell you from having been in Munich and different Europeans, this is what the Trump people are like behind closed doors too, from what I hear. They're not just performing for the cameras. This is who they are.

I'm saying he messed up by getting baited into this, but there may be something worthwhile that comes out of just clarifying, okay, this is actually where we are. And I can tell you from having been in Munich and different Europeans, this is what the Trump people are like behind closed doors too, from what I hear. They're not just performing for the cameras. This is who they are.

I'm saying he messed up by getting baited into this, but there may be something worthwhile that comes out of just clarifying, okay, this is actually where we are. And I can tell you from having been in Munich and different Europeans, this is what the Trump people are like behind closed doors too, from what I hear. They're not just performing for the cameras. This is who they are.

And so now he's got to go back. And I was thinking too, Tommy, like, You know, he made that comment about like, I will step down if it brings peace. Like he's got to be also thinking about that, you know, not stepping down now, but like, you know, like what is what like he's tired.

And so now he's got to go back. And I was thinking too, Tommy, like, You know, he made that comment about like, I will step down if it brings peace. Like he's got to be also thinking about that, you know, not stepping down now, but like, you know, like what is what like he's tired.

And so now he's got to go back. And I was thinking too, Tommy, like, You know, he made that comment about like, I will step down if it brings peace. Like he's got to be also thinking about that, you know, not stepping down now, but like, you know, like what is what like he's tired.

He's clearly a lightning rod to Trump because Trump wrongly, unfairly sees him as some guy who's like aligned with Trump. Things that Trump doesn't like, like democracies and Europeans and and internationalists in this country. And and so I think he's got to stand up to Trump and try to get the best deal for his people and from the Europeans. And then, you know, that's that's his mission.

He's clearly a lightning rod to Trump because Trump wrongly, unfairly sees him as some guy who's like aligned with Trump. Things that Trump doesn't like, like democracies and Europeans and and internationalists in this country. And and so I think he's got to stand up to Trump and try to get the best deal for his people and from the Europeans. And then, you know, that's that's his mission.

He's clearly a lightning rod to Trump because Trump wrongly, unfairly sees him as some guy who's like aligned with Trump. Things that Trump doesn't like, like democracies and Europeans and and internationalists in this country. And and so I think he's got to stand up to Trump and try to get the best deal for his people and from the Europeans. And then, you know, that's that's his mission.

And then he's done.

And then he's done.

And then he's done.