What did Donald Trump do today?

He staged a scene for "great television."

The major news story of the day was Trump's treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had come to the White House to sign a deal in which the United States would receive some of Ukraine's mineral wealth in exchange for continued military support. But in what appears to have been a literal made-for-TV moment, Trump and other members of his cabinet publicly berated Zelenskyy, to the delight of the Putin regime in Russia.

A transcript of the debacle is available here.

It is difficult to overstate how far out of line Trump has gotten with American public opinion. Polls show Americans across the political spectrum showing support for Ukraine and hostility towards Russia. In a recent survey, only 9% of Americans shared Trump's opinion that Vladimir Putin could be trusted.

Trump is also facing withering criticism from his fellow Republicans in ways that hearken back to his humiliating encounter with Putin at a summit in Finland in 2018. While Trump is unquestionably in control of the Republican party, very few of its members share his allegiance to the Putin regime, and some of them made their opinions known today.

• Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE): [This was] a bad day for America's foreign policy. Ukraine wants independence, free markets and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom.
  
  A reminder: Putin’s rivals always end up murdered. Putin despises the West and our values. We should have 100% moral clarity who this murdering dictator really is.

• Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY): As someone who fundamentally believes that Russia, China and Iran are not our friends or allies and continues to believe it is important to support Ukraine, it was extremely short-sighted to engage in that type of exchange in front of the US and international press as you work towards an agreement. Sadly, the only winner of today is Vladimir Putin. Diplomacy is tough and often times there are serious differences of opinion and heated exchanges behind closed doors. Having this spill out into public view was a disaster—especially for Ukraine.

• Former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA): The enemy is on the inside. There’s so much fear, but we need to overcome that fear now, and the rational, the sane—those who care more about this country than securing mineral rights for their oligarch friends—might be the way we need to go now. This is America. This isn't Russia lite. 
  
  They're specifically trying to make Putin happy. It's interesting that the most powerful country in the world is bending the knee to a bare-chested horse rider. This is absolutely unconscionable, and, because of his insanity, he should be removed on the 25th Amendment.

• GOP Strategist Karl Rove: The only winner out of today is Vladimir Putin. …It was a mistake for [Trump and Vance] to be so public in their comments. This was not the moment that should have been televised. They should have had those conversations out of camera sight and I'm confident then that they would have been able to find a way to move forward. But it's really hard when you've had the kind of coverage of this moment that we've now had.

The Putin regime made clear that it agreed with Bacon and Rove that this worked in its favor:

• Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev: The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office. And @realDonaldTrump is right: The Kiev regime is "gambling with WWIII."
  
  
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova: I think Zelensky's biggest lie of all his lies was his assertion in the White House that the Kyiv regime in 2022 was alone, without support. How Trump and Vance held back from hitting that scumbag is a miracle of restraint.

Meanwhile, essentially every military ally the United States has left immediately moved to pledge the support Trump was only willing to sell. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had only just returned from a visit to the White House in which he was at pains to appease Trump, quickly pledged "unwavering support" for Ukraine. This is a sampling of social media posts from other world leaders:

• Emmanuel Macron, President of France:  There is an aggressor: Russia.
  
  There is a victim: Ukraine.
  
  We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago—and to keep doing so.
  
  By “we,” I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others.
  
  Thank you to all who have helped and continue to do so. And respect to those who have been fighting since the beginning—because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children, and the security of Europe.

• Stephen Gethins, Scottish National Party foreign affairs spokesperson: President Zelenskyy himself has provided strong leadership and a lesson in personal courage.
  
  His appalling treatment in the White House today is grotesque and outrageous. Ukraine is fighting for democracy and defending us all.
  
  This bullying performance in the Oval Office outlines yet again that Europe can no longer rely on the USA and must do more for its own security and to support Ukraine. The security of us all depends on it.
  
  Today's events put the tone of the Prime Minister's visit to the White House in a new light. It is vital that the UK government reaffirms its commitment to stand by Ukraine and work with our European partners to ensure a strong and united position in support.

• Donald Tusk, President of Poland: Dear [Volodymyr Zelenskyy], dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.

• Annalena Baerbock, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs: Germany together with our European allies stands united alongside #Ukraine — and against the Russian aggression. Ukraine can build on unwavering support from Germany, Europe, and beyond. Their defence of democracy and their quest for peace & security is ours.

• Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic: We stand with Ukraine and on the side of the free world!

• Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia: Slovenia upholds the principles and respect of international law and internationl relations. What we witnessed in the Oval Office today undermines those values and the foundation of diplomace. We stand firmly in support of Ukraine's sovereignty. We repeat, Russia is the aggressor. It is imperative that we nurture and protect democratic ideals, ensuring they are reflected in our actions and interactions on the global stage.

• Alexander Schallenberg, Acting Chancellor of Austria (quote-tweeting Austria's foreign affairs ministry): Russia is the aggressor and we share Ukraine's commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace!

• Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany: Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do. Therefore we are working on a common path to a lasting and just peace. Ukrainians can rely on Germany—and on Europe.

• Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain: Ukraine, Spain stands with you.

• Caspar Veldkamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands: Just spoke to my dear Ukrainian friend and colleague Andreii Sybiha [Ukrainian Foreign Minister]. I reiterated my full support for #Ukraine, whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.

• Luis Montenegro, Prime Minister of Portugal: Ukraine can always count on Portugal.

• Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia: Croatia knows from its own experience that only a just peace can last. The Croatian Government stands firm in its believe that Ukraine needs such a peace—a peace that means sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a secure Europe.

• Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minster of Denmark: Dear [Volodymyr Zelenskyy], Denmark proudly stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

• Mélanie Joly, Canadian Minster of Foreign Affairs: Canada remains committed to providing the necessary assistance to ensure Ukraine's security, sovereignty, and resilience.

• Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania: Ukraine, you'll never walk alone.

• Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister of Latvia: Latvia stands with Ukraine.

• Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia: Ukraine is a victim of the Russian aggression. It fights the war with the help from may friends and partners. We need to spare no effort for the just and lasting peace. Diplomacy sometimes is the art of the impossible in difficult circumstances.

• Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland: Finland stands with the people and the people's right to choose. In Ukraine, people have chosen freedom.
  
  We stand by Ukraine.

• Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada: Russia illegally and unjustifiably invaded Ukraine.
  
  For three years now, Ukrainians have fought with courage and resilience. Their fight for democracy, freedom, and sovereignty is a fight that matters to us all.
  
  Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians in achieving a just and lasting peace.

• Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia: I just had a call with my friend and colleague Andreii Sybiha [Ukrainian Foreign Minister] where I reassured Estonia's support to Ukraine whatever it takes.

• Maia Sandu, President of Moldova: The truth is simple. 
  
  Russia invaded Ukriane. Russia is the aggressor.
  
  Ukraine defends its freedom—and ours.

• Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway: We stand by Ukraine in their fair struggle for a just and lasting peace.

• Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands: The Netherlands continues to support Ukraine, especially now. We want lasting peace and an end to the war of aggression that Russia has started, for all its inhabitants and for Europe.

• Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland: Iceland stands with Ukraine. You are not alone. We wholeheartedly support Ukraine in their quest for just and lasting peace against the unprovoked and unlawful Russian aggression.

• Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium: We stand behind Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their historic fight to defend themselves against an unprovoked Russian aggression. Their fight is our fight. United we are strong.
   

Why does this matter?

• There's no way for a country to betray one ally without risking every alliance.

• There's no practical difference between a president who is controlled by a hostile foreign power and one that simply makes the same decisions as if he were.

• The presidency is not a reality show.