On Friday, 2/28/25, I and millions of others around the world, were witness to the most disgusting acts of schoolyard bulling, that I have ever seen. This outrage happened in the People’s White House, where a hero of Democracy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was mocked, berated, taunted, and ridiculed by a pack of thieving, misogynistic, condescending, Putin-Worshiping sycophants.
It was not diplomacy, it was a bunch of bullies shaking down a smaller kid on the playground for his lunch money.
It’s not who we are as Americans, and I for one am absolutely outraged at the behavior of “President” Trump and his toadies, and I wrote President Zelenskyy to apologize for this appalling behavior and lack of even the simplest of manners.
“Dear President Zelensky,
I am shocked and outraged by the way you and your delegation were treated at the White House today. As an American, I was deeply ashamed to witness such disrespect toward a leader who embodies courage, resilience, and the fight for democracy.
I am grateful that my grandmother did not live to see such disgraceful behavior. Had she been there, she would have taught Trump and his cronies some manners—with a wooden spoon, no less. And once that broke, she’d have switched to her shoe. Trust me, I speak from personal experience.
Sir, please know that the people I stand with—my friends, my family, and countless Americans—support you and the Ukrainian people wholeheartedly. You represent everything we, as a nation, claim to value: integrity, bravery, and the relentless pursuit of freedom. I am deeply sorry that you were treated with anything less than the highest respect in the People’s White House.
As a former soldier and an American voter, I offer my sincerest apologies from the bottom of my heart. I only wish that this apology came with the weapons and aid Ukraine needs and deserves.
With unwavering support,
Patrick H. Hartley Oregon, USA”
