Trumping Diplomacy

By Herman M. Lagon

It takes a certain audacity to openly belittle an ally fighting for its survival while cozying up to an adversary bent on global destabilization. U.S. President Donald Trump has never shied away from bullying, and his recent treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was more than just lousy diplomacy—it was a showcase of his unfitness to lead any nation that values freedom. The Oval Office meeting revealed Trump’s disregard for alliances and his troubling habit of appeasing autocrats.

For us, Filipinos, the parallels are clear. Like Ukraine against Russia, the Philippines faces China’s advances in the West Philippine Sea. Trump’s actions warn us that alliances built on a leader’s whims leave smaller nations vulnerable.

Instead of discussing continued U.S. support, the meeting became an exercise in coercion. Trump and his Vice President, J.D. Vance, took turns cornering Zelensky, questioning his gratitude, and even suggesting Ukraine was to blame for its war. The gaslighting was blatant—akin to an abuser blaming their victim for the harm inflicted on them. It was an appalling spectacle, and the world took notice.

Trump demanded that Zelensky express more gratitude for U.S. aid, as if fighting and dying to defend one’s homeland was not enough proof of commitment. The walking contradiction president went as far as to suggest that Ukraine needed to negotiate “peace”—a thinly veiled way of saying “surrender.” What Trump conveniently ignored was the reality that Vladimir Putin has shown zero intention of honoring any ceasefire agreement. Russia has repeatedly used temporary truces to regroup and rearm before launching deadlier offensives. To frame Ukraine’s resistance as mere stubbornness rather than an existential fight for survival was both disingenuous and cruel.

We should pay close attention to this. Trump’s stance—that weaker nations should yield to stronger aggressors—echoes arguments about the Philippines’ disputes with China. Can we trust him to stand firm against Beijing? His track record suggests U.S. support could be shallow at best.

Worse, Trump treated Ukraine’s suffering as a mere inconvenience, reducing a brutal war to a political game. This is not just a failure of diplomacy—it is a failure of basic human decency. Even leaders with opposing views can recognize the gravity of war and the value of standing by allies. Conversely, the divider-in-chief Trump treated Ukraine’s plight like a business transaction, where gratitude was currency and support was conditional on flattery.

History warns that self-serving leaders breed instability. Trump’s foreign policy is not about strategy or principles—it is driven by ego and personal gain. Trump sees alliances as mere transactions, making him a risky leader in an unstable world. His pattern of siding with strongmen like Kim Jong Un, Mohammad bin Salman, and Putin over democratic allies should alarm the Philippines.

If the demagogue Trump had no hesitation in publicly humiliating an ally like Ukraine, what guarantee do smaller nations have that their security interests would matter under his leadership? A U.S. president treating diplomacy as extortion—where support is given only in exchange for submission—threatens global stability.

We must take this as a warning. As Ukraine fights to defend its sovereignty, our country faces its battle in the West Philippine Sea. Choosing allies wisely is essential. The U.S. can be a strong ally with the right leader, but it would be unpredictable under teflon don Donald Trump. True alliances rely on trust and shared values—things he has consistently disregarded. His actions show he is unfit to lead a nation that claims to champion freedom.

This should reinforce the importance of fostering relationships based on mutual respect and reliability for us, Filipinos. Our country must not be a casualty of leaders who put self-interest over global stability. Like Ukraine, we deserve allies who see us as partners, not pawns. In the end, Trump will be remembered not for his words but for his failure of character. His bullying of Ukraine is a stain on his record and a warning to the world.

 

Leaders who abandon their allies, embolden aggressors, and reduce diplomacy to petty extortion are not just bad politicians—they are threats to global peace. Our country must learn from this moment and choose its friends wisely. When the time comes to stand our ground, we will need leaders who see the partnership as a commitment, not a convenience.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ‘student of and for life’ who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.