House Republicans who support Ukraine were left alarmed after an explosive Oval Office meeting ended with Kyiv’s leader being booted from the White House. Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska spoke out, comparing President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to Democrats during the Cold War, highlighting a role reversal where Republicans were once the more hawkish party on Russia.
Bacon expressed his concerns, stating, “The U.S. is now on the wrong side of this war, against freedom.” He criticized Trump and Vance for their behavior during the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, likening their approach to that of Democrats from previous decades. He emphasized his allegiance to the legacy of President Ronald Reagan.
Another House Republican, who wished to remain anonymous, blamed both sides for the tumultuous meeting, labeling it as a missed opportunity for both Ukraine and the United States and a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The planned deal between Zelenskyy and Trump to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals revenues veered off course amidst the tense exchange.
During the meeting, Trump chastised Zelenskyy for appearing ungrateful for U.S. aid against Russia’s invasion, warning him about the risks of World War III. Vice President Vance accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the U.S. and urged him to show appreciation. Zelenskyy defended his actions, inviting Trump and Vance to witness the challenges faced by Ukraine firsthand.
The House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital expressed shock and concern for Ukraine’s future following the meeting. They criticized the administration for emboldening Putin and undermining U.S. strength and global leadership. Representative Mike Lawler from New York highlighted the shortsightedness of the exchange and the detrimental impact it could have on negotiations.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
While some GOP lawmakers publicly praised Trump and Vance for their firm stance, others condemned the behavior displayed during the meeting. Representative Andy Biggs from Arizona commended the new administration for standing up for America, while House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast from Florida voiced support for their actions.
A source close to Vance attributed the confrontational atmosphere to Zelenskyy’s unexpected behavior. The White House defended Trump’s approach, emphasizing the importance of meaningful dialogue under pressure. Trump’s statement on the meeting indicated a willingness to pursue peace but called out Zelenskyy for disrespecting the Oval Office.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic, condemned Zelenskyy’s behavior, suggesting that he had undermined Trump during the meeting. The fallout from the Oval Office encounter underscores the complex dynamics at play in U.S.-Ukraine relations and the challenges of navigating international diplomacy in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
