World Reacts to Trump Calling Zelensky a ‘Dictator,’ - Here are their Words
Donald Trump, never one to let facts get in the way of a cheap shot, has once again sparked international outrage—this time by calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and demanding that Ukraine hold elections immediately, despite being in the middle of an all-out war with Russia. His reckless remarks have been met with fierce backlash from European leaders, who are slamming his comments as both wildly inaccurate and incredibly dangerous for Ukraine’s fight for survival.
Let’s be clear: Zelensky is not a dictator—he is a democratically elected leader whose country is under martial law due to an unprovoked invasion by Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The idea that Ukraine should be expected to hold elections while bombs are still raining down on cities, while civilians are being slaughtered, and while Russian troops occupy large parts of the country is not just absurd—it’s malicious.
Europe Responds: Trump’s Words Are “Dangerous” and “Cynical”
If Trump thought his attack on Zelensky would go unchallenged, he grossly miscalculated. European leaders are furious and have publicly rebuked him for his reckless rhetoric:
🔴 Czech President Petr Pavel:
“Trump’s words had a great deal of cynicism.”
🔴 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz:
“Trump’s remarks [about Zelensky] were wrong and dangerous.”
🔴 Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre:
“Trump’s claims [about Zelensky being a dictator] are deeply unfounded.”
🔴 Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen:
“Zelenskyy is a democratically elected and, by the way, extraordinarily capable political leader in Europe, who (…) fought every single day for the peace, freedom and security of Europe and thus also for the Americans.”
🔴 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer:
“Ukraine has a democratically elected leader. It is perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during wartime, as the UK did during World War Two.”
🔴 European Commission Spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker:
“Our position on this is quite direct and clear. President Zelensky was legitimately elected in free, fair, and democratic elections. Ukraine is a democracy, and Putin’s Russia is not.”
These statements send a clear message: Trump’s rhetoric is reckless, dangerous, and completely out of touch with reality.
History Proves Trump Wrong—Again
Trump, either shockingly ignorant of history or deliberately distorting reality, is demanding elections as if Ukraine’s situation is somehow unique. It isn’t. Major democracies, including the United States' closest allies, have postponed elections in times of existential crisis. The United Kingdom, for example, did not hold a general election between 1935 and 1945—because, obviously, it was fighting for its survival in World War II.
And yet, here we are, watching Trump—a man who literally tried to steal an election on January 6, 2021—lecture a wartime democracy about the need for elections. The hypocrisy is staggering.
Trump Is Undermining Democracy—Again
The real dictator here isn’t Zelensky—it’s Vladimir Putin, a man who jails or assassinates political opponents, rigs elections, and criminalizes dissent. Yet, Trump won’t call Putin a dictator. Instead, he chooses to attack a democratic leader who is literally fighting to defend his country from a fascist invader.
And why? Because Trump admires strongmen. He idolizes authoritarian leaders like Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Viktor Orbán. He wants power for himself and has already tried to overthrow democracy once. Now, he’s attacking a nation at war simply because Zelensky hasn’t groveled at his feet the way Putin has.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
Ukraine is not just fighting for its own survival—it’s fighting for democracy itself. If Russia wins, it’s not just Ukraine that loses—it’s the entire democratic world. European leaders understand this, which is why they are standing firmly behind Ukraine and Zelensky. Trump, meanwhile, is actively working to undermine them.
His words aren’t just ignorant—they’re dangerous. They embolden Putin, they weaken Western unity, and they signal to authoritarians everywhere that democracy is expendable.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about Ukraine. It’s about whether democracy can survive the forces trying to destroy it. And Trump has once again made it crystal clear which side he’s on—and it’s not the side of democracy.
