U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised White House chief Donald Trump not to receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, calling the Ukrainian president a "little jerk," a "special needs child," and "Mr. Bean on drugs." This is stated in the book by The New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan "Regime Change," reports UNN citing The Guardian.
Details
It is noted that the news of such wording by Bessent may embarrass the Trump administration, "although the meeting, which took place on February 28, 2025, turned out to be frankly catastrophic, as Trump and JD Vance criticized Zelensky for not being grateful for the help in the fight against the Russian invaders and for not wearing a suit."
"Several Trump aides were concerned" about a potential explosion when Zelensky came to the White House, ostensibly to conclude a deal on minerals developed by Bessent. Then-National Security Advisor Michael Waltz "tried – unsuccessfully – to convey the message that Zelensky should come in a suit. Bessent strongly recommended that Trump not even let Zelensky into the White House until he signed" the deal
They cite Bessent's quote: "I've dealt with this little jerk. He's cunning. He's like a special needs child for Europeans. And he acts like Mr. Bean on drugs."
The book also provides alleged details of Bessent's failed negotiations regarding the minerals operation. Before the fiasco in the Oval Office, the Treasury Secretary visited Kyiv to pressure Zelensky into signing the agreement. Things did not go as planned.
For 45 minutes, the men argued with each other. Bessent had only been in office for a few days but had already managed to get into a dispute with the leader of a country at war. Finally, he looked at Zelensky and said, "What the hell do you want?"
However, the most awkward moment for Scott Bessent may be his remarks about Donald Trump. Bessent allegedly compared him to a person considered perhaps the main bogeyman for many Republicans with conservative views.
According to the book, Bessent told his associates that "Trump reminded him of his former boss, legendary investor and major Democratic Party donor George Soros."
"They are the same bastards," the authors quote Bessent.
Reminder
According to The Economist, after the G7 summit, informal negotiations between Ukraine, the Trump team, and Russia have resumed. A two-stage ceasefire with a buffer zone along the front line is being discussed.
Trump changed his mind about the war in Ukraine after what he saw - Macron19.06.26, 14:57