Bad talking Putin doesn’t make sense if you want to engage in diplomacy with him, which Trump does. In fact it seems the only thing that can bring an end to the fighting in Ukraine is diplomacy, so Trump is right on that. Lifting sanctions is another potential tool in that diplomacy.

Also, did you by chance grow up in the 70s in rural SoCal?

You’re not using a lot of words, so I’m not sure what you refer to, but Zelenskiy’s designer is a Ukrainian living in Ukraine.

the Rhine Metall plot was a little sketchy, I guess it could have happened, could not based on the dubious outlets that published it,

Trump has faced two different assasins, one with ties to the country that has demanded so much,

Please take a look at my comment to BJ, right above yours.

She didn’t say, but expressed surprise that he had a designer for his wardrobe. I felt silly never asking myself the question; I mean we knew from AOC’s designer suits that her “up from bartending” narrative was bogus.

There is literally no outfit he could have had on that would have headed off all criticism.

That’s true of everyone everywhere at all times, so it’s a bit of a straw man. (Certainly what Trump wears draws criticism.)

In Zelenskiy’s case there was ONE person whose opinion really mattered, who explicitly asked him to wear a suit for the occasion.

I think this whole row over Zelenskyy’s fashion choices is a fragile hook to kill a deal that Trump never wanted anyway.

You may be right, but the fashion choice is an explicit (and expensive, to the average Ukranian or indeed American) public message. As was all the stuff Zelenskiy was saying for the cameras.

Spoiler: things don’t end well for the studio head. Or his favorite horse.

I doubt Trump is sitting up nights. Zelenskiy will need to get in line.

DId you actually watch the entire video of the meeting? Trump clearly wanted this deal.

You might also read this.

In addition, Trump was very gracious for the first part of the meeting, really until the last 10 minutes or so. As for the remarks on Zelensky’s attire, I have read that Trump’s initial comment was a joke although the media is making much of it. It was also a reporter who asked a hostile question of Zelensky during the meeting about his outfit, whereas Trump responded in the meeting by defending what Zelensky had on:

Again, thanks for the information. What, pray tell, does Althouse think Zelenskyy should have worn? There is literally no outfit he could have had on that would have headed off all criticism. (Unless he went naked under a barrel to show his country’s poverty, and it’s a little cold to do that. 😉

Me, I think this whole row over Zelenskyy’s fashion choices is a fragile hook to kill a deal that Trump never wanted anyway. It reminds me of the scene in “The Godfather”, where the studio head swears that he will NEVER cast Johnny Fontaine in another movie, because “(Johnny) disrespected me, and a man in my position can’t afford to be disrespected!”

Spoiler: things don’t end well for the studio head. Or his favorite horse.