Thomas Friedman Critiques Trump’s Ukraine Deal as a ‘Disgrace’

Renowned foreign affairs expert and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas L. Friedman, has sharply criticized Donald Trump‘s proposed plan for Ukraine, calling it a “disgrace.” In his recent column for the New York Times, Friedman condemned the President’s actions as an attempt to secure a Nobel Peace Prize that would instead equate to a historical betrayal of allies.

Friedman described Trump’s efforts as possibly earning him the “Neville Chamberlain Peace Prize,” a term he coined to characterize leaders who capitulate to aggressive dictators at the expense of their allies. “This prize richly deserves to be shared by Trump’s many ‘secretaries of state’ — Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, and Dan Driscoll — who together negotiated the surrender of Ukraine to Vladimir Putin’s demands,” he stated, criticizing the lack of consultation with Ukraine or European allies before finalizing the plan.

For Friedman, the implications of the deal are profound. He warned that if Ukraine is forced to acquiesce to the terms by Thanksgiving, the holiday would transform from an American celebration into a commemoration of Russia’s perceived victory in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. “Thanksgiving will no longer be an American holiday. It will become a Russian holiday,” Friedman asserted, arguing that it would symbolize a surrender facilitated by an American administration rather than military prowess.

He elaborated on the dangers of rewarding Putin for his unprovoked invasion, suggesting that it would undermine the stability of the entire European Union. “Trump’s message to our allies will be clear: Don’t provoke Putin, because as long as I am commander in chief, the United States will pay no price, and we will bear no burden in the defense of your freedom,” Friedman noted.

The columnist expressed profound concern that this strategy would necessitate the introduction of a new term in diplomatic language: “Trumped.” This term, he explained, would signify being abandoned by an American president for reasons that remain unclear to citizens. “History will never forget the men who did it — Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, Dan Driscoll — for their shame will be everlasting,” he concluded.

Friedman’s commentary not only raises questions about the direction of U.S. foreign policy under Trump but also highlights the potential ramifications for global alliances. The stakes are high as the deadline for Ukraine to respond looms, with significant implications for international relations and security.