Trump: 'This is good TV!'

CNN was live on the White House. It abruptly cut off speculation from reporters and analysts about the meeting to make way for the Oval Office meeting, which seemed packed with people. Zelensky and Trump sat in two armchairs in front of the presidential fireplace, with Trump showing off his centrality in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. When Vice President JD Vance, sitting on the couch next to Trump, chimed in, the atmosphere became tense.

The spectacle was unprecedented. An official appearance of presidents with an exchange of reproaches, interrupting each other, threatening each other, contradicting each other and criticizing each other's manner. Trump booed Zelensky by pointing at him with his index finger. The president of Ukraine rolled his eyes and strongly rewarded the jaws. He also raised his eyebrows in front of certain comments. And he did not flinch, recalling the chronology of the Russian invasion to arm himself with reasons. Trump even parodied Zelensky as if he were a stubborn teenager: "And don't want to ceasefire! And don't want to ceasefire!The Ukrainian was stunned. The American president was very blunt: "You're playing with World War III!"

Trump, who always has a sense of spectacle in mind, knew how to put an end to the scene: "This is good television! I'm telling you now!" he said. When CNN resumed its analysis, Christiane Amanpour, editor-in-chief of International, was holding her face in shock. The presenter gave her the floor so she could react. Amanpour tried to compose herself: "Never, in the entire history of modern diplomacy, never, never, in peace, in war. We hope, for the safety of a free world, for the Americans, the Europeans and the Ukrainians, that these two presidents will smooth out their differences. They were attacking each other, personally, with so many lies and pointless arguments..."

The sound cut out and they could not continue. It was certainly a shocking television spectacle, and worst of all, one with dire consequences. If Putin was watching the appearance from the Kremlin, he was off track.