Peter Baker

Will they have the news conference been set up in the East Room waiting for us any minute now? We don't know. But then suddenly we get the answer. Zelensky's car has just pulled up to the door of the West Wing. And he's leaving.

Will they have the news conference been set up in the East Room waiting for us any minute now? We don't know. But then suddenly we get the answer. Zelensky's car has just pulled up to the door of the West Wing. And he's leaving.

Well, what we end up learning later is the two teams, the U.S. team and the Ukrainian team, head into separate rooms in the West Wing to collect themselves after this bruising battle in the Oval Office. And Zelensky still wants to salvage this thing. He still wants to sign the deal. smooth it over. But the U.S.

Well, what we end up learning later is the two teams, the U.S. team and the Ukrainian team, head into separate rooms in the West Wing to collect themselves after this bruising battle in the Oval Office. And Zelensky still wants to salvage this thing. He still wants to sign the deal. smooth it over. But the U.S.

side, Trump and his team, are meeting in another part of the White House, and they are furious. And the answer to them is no. It's over. Tell them to leave. And two U.S. officials then go to the room where Zelensky and his team are and explain to him, you're out of here. Basically, they're kicking Zelensky out of the White House. Exactly right.

side, Trump and his team, are meeting in another part of the White House, and they are furious. And the answer to them is no. It's over. Tell them to leave. And two U.S. officials then go to the room where Zelensky and his team are and explain to him, you're out of here. Basically, they're kicking Zelensky out of the White House. Exactly right.

And so the reporters were all rushing out to the driveway, and there's this black Chevy SUV, the Suburban, at the door of the West Wing and out comes Volodymyr Zelensky looking very grim-faced as he climbs in. And then the suburban pulls out of the White House driveway and off the White House grounds and you realize just how much has changed in those few minutes. Wow. So lunch is off.

And so the reporters were all rushing out to the driveway, and there's this black Chevy SUV, the Suburban, at the door of the West Wing and out comes Volodymyr Zelensky looking very grim-faced as he climbs in. And then the suburban pulls out of the White House driveway and off the White House grounds and you realize just how much has changed in those few minutes. Wow. So lunch is off.

The press conference is off. Trump's aides are busy eating the lunch that had actually been prepared for Zelensky, this roasted chicken and creme brulee. And Trump issues a statement on his social media platform. And it says, I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.

The press conference is off. Trump's aides are busy eating the lunch that had actually been prepared for Zelensky, this roasted chicken and creme brulee. And Trump issues a statement on his social media platform. And it says, I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.

He can come back when he is ready for peace.

He can come back when he is ready for peace.

Yeah, I was there on the White House driveway when Senator Lindsey Graham came out.

Yeah, I was there on the White House driveway when Senator Lindsey Graham came out.

essentially sent out by the White House to say not only that it was Zelensky's fault.

essentially sent out by the White House to say not only that it was Zelensky's fault.

And that he's proud of Trump for standing up for America, but that if Zelensky wouldn't change, that he should even resign.

And that he's proud of Trump for standing up for America, but that if Zelensky wouldn't change, that he should even resign.

And what a remarkable 180 degrees for the Graham wing of the Republican Party, what used to be the Reagan wing of the Republican Party. Graham was one of the most hawkish, pro-Ukraine, anti-Russia voices on the scene, and now he has fallen in line behind Trump. But to Democrats, the only person who had been disrespected in that meeting was Zelensky.

And what a remarkable 180 degrees for the Graham wing of the Republican Party, what used to be the Reagan wing of the Republican Party. Graham was one of the most hawkish, pro-Ukraine, anti-Russia voices on the scene, and now he has fallen in line behind Trump. But to Democrats, the only person who had been disrespected in that meeting was Zelensky.