Ben Rhodes

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.

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 internationalists in this country. 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 his mission. And then he's done it.

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 internationalists in this country. 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 his mission. And then he's done it.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if I'm him, I'm going to take a breath and I'm going to talk. I mean, I honestly, frankly, I guess you got to do the Brett Baer car wash, but he can't just go on there and grovel, you know, and Brett Baer will be an asshole. As a side note to Tommy, it's like, Do you remember, like, you know, people would go to finally just go to China.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if I'm him, I'm going to take a breath and I'm going to talk. I mean, I honestly, frankly, I guess you got to do the Brett Baer car wash, but he can't just go on there and grovel, you know, and Brett Baer will be an asshole. As a side note to Tommy, it's like, Do you remember, like, you know, people would go to finally just go to China.

They have to do CCTV, the state media like Fox News has become like the CCTV of the U.S. No doubt. That's pretty dark, too. You know, like that's not normal people. You know, like there's a lot of other people that you could do interviews with, but they know that they like have to talk to Brett Baier and Fox News because that's who Trump wants to talk to. Yeah.

They have to do CCTV, the state media like Fox News has become like the CCTV of the U.S. No doubt. That's pretty dark, too. You know, like that's not normal people. You know, like there's a lot of other people that you could do interviews with, but they know that they like have to talk to Brett Baier and Fox News because that's who Trump wants to talk to. Yeah.

So I will, you know, I'm sure he'll kind of recalibrate this a little bit, but he can't fold or capitulate. And that's also not in his character. And I think you go back, you talk to Macron, you talk to Starmer, you talk to Mertz and Schultz and the Germans. If you're Zelensky and you kind of go back to the drawing board, OK, like what? What's our position?

So I will, you know, I'm sure he'll kind of recalibrate this a little bit, but he can't fold or capitulate. And that's also not in his character. And I think you go back, you talk to Macron, you talk to Starmer, you talk to Mertz and Schultz and the Germans. If you're Zelensky and you kind of go back to the drawing board, OK, like what? What's our position?

Our being Europe and Ukraine and this negotiation with the U.S. and Russia.

Our being Europe and Ukraine and this negotiation with the U.S. and Russia.

Historic day.

Historic day.

I thought we'd be talking about like a rare earths agreement.

I thought we'd be talking about like a rare earths agreement.

Not even close, yeah. This is unlike anything that has taken place in my entire lifetime. And, you know... I'd have to mine my brain. I mean, I assume there were some tough meetings, you know, in the Civil War. But yeah, never, never. We've never seen anything like it. Yeah.

Not even close, yeah. This is unlike anything that has taken place in my entire lifetime. And, you know... I'd have to mine my brain. I mean, I assume there were some tough meetings, you know, in the Civil War. But yeah, never, never. We've never seen anything like it. Yeah.