President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today at the White House, and boasted about his ability to end wars, making one major slip in the process.
The two world leaders met at the White House on Monday afternoon, along with a delegation of European leaders from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO. The leaders showed up to support Zelensky at the high-stakes meeting that could determine the future of his country. Discussing the possibility of a ceasefire, Trump bragged about his track record of “ending wars.”
“I’ve ended six wars. I thought maybe this would be the easiest one. And it’s not. It’s a tough one,” Trump claimed. It comes amid alarming fears over the president’s health due to an injury being spotted.
As Trump rambled about the wars he has claimed credit for ending, he made a major slip, calling the Democratic Republic of Congo, the “Republic of the Condo.” It comes after the Prime Minister of Italy mocks Trump with a brutal eye roll.
On X, a viewer pointed it out, writing, “Yes, he just said ‘Republic of the Condo.’ Can’t get his mind away from real estate!”
Trump immediately corrected himself, briefly closing his eyes as he gathered his thoughts. The high-stakes meeting, which had many eyes on it, was an opportunity for Trump to shut down rumors that he is experiencing a cognitive decline.
On numerous occasions recently, Trump has slipped up and misspoken, causing viewers to call his mental capacity into question.
Today’s mistake is not the first one Trump has made when speaking about the Congo. He was accused of not knowing anything about the country, after flippantly saying, “many people come from the Congo. I don’t know what that is.”
On X, another user added, “Trump’s Freudian slip “Republic of the Condo” in his press conference reveals his preferred solution to all international conflicts: turn them into luxury resorts!”
Today’s meeting comes just days after President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader rejected a cease-fire and called on Ukraine to cede land in the country’s east in exchange for a freeze in the front line elsewhere.
Trump and Zelensky’s last meeting in February ended abruptly and without any resolve. The two butted heads and Trump grew impatient with the Ukrainian president, telling him, “You’ve got to be more thankful, because, let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
JD Vance, who called Zelensky ungrateful during their February meeting, was also present today. It comes as Trump lets slip his true feelings about his wife Melania with a gesture at Zelensky showdown.
