So, my husband decided to watch the entire 49+ minute video of the Trump-Zelensky meeting and several things jumped out that got lost due to the argument in the last 12 minutes —
* midway through, Trump was asked about his commitment to NATO countries along the Russian border — he complimented Poland but when pressed n the Baltics was like welllllll we’d have to see — he did not seem at all committed to defending them
* some of the sycophantic questions from OAN and other media were appalling — like Mr. President, how do you have the moral courage to re-engage diplomatic relations with Russia? (Pretty close paraphrase of an actual question)
* Zelensky was clearly communicating with someone on the front row (I assume his ambassador) at times
* Zelensky started to fact check Trump on whether the U.S. has provided way more support than Europe but got talked over
* as things went on, Zelensky suggested that Trump was answering questions directed to Zelensky (both being addressed as Mr President and the video didn’t show the reporters), and started being more forceful about addressing a few of what he called “serious” questions (with pointed side eye to MTG’s boyfriend who asked about attire)
* Trump dominated the proceedings but looked lost on a sycophantic question about the alleged imprisoning of people for meme in England — Trump actually turned and asked Rubio to respond, which he did with a vague statement about talking to the PM about protecting Americans from overzealous attacks on free speech in the UK; when Rubio finished Trump was about to move on when Vance inserted himself and made a more forceful statement reiterating his allegations about free speech being suppressed in Europe
* Zelensky did roll his eyes and make some faces all along, some in obvious disdain but some seemed more frustration and/or often in apparent concentration on understanding or coming up with English phrases
* Reporter questions brought up security assurances several times before Zelensky started pressing it
* Vance was fanboy forced laughing at Trump “quips” loudly and repeatedly but pretty much alone from the sound of it
* Trump was a raving lunatic at times, but he also clearly didn’t really recall the timeline of Ukraine events, including that Zelensky signed a multi-lateral ceasefire with Putin in 2019 that Putin failed to honor — Zelensky tried to remind Trump of this but they talked over each other, Zelensky’s English faltered a bit and Trump insisted that Putin would never break an agreement with him
* Vance was clearly egging on Trump when he accused Zelensky of not thanking Trump specifically (and accused Zelensky of failing to say thanks in that meeting even though he did directly and indirectly with praise of Trump several times), but that really lit Trump’s fuse and the way Vance was glancing at Trump he knew it — whether it was 100% planned or Vance took his shot knowing how to push Trump’s buttons I couldn’t tell