Allegations in ‘Regime Change’
A forthcoming book titled Regime Change discusses the first year of Donald Trump’s second administration, describing treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s alleged derogatory remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Co-authored by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, the book is based on extensive interviews and reporting from within the administration’s inner circles. Regime Change is scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 23, according to Simon & Schuster.
Excerpts from the book, published by The Guardian, claim Bessent referred to Zelensky in derogatory terms such as “little f****r,” “special-needs child for the Europeans,” and “Mr. Bean on crack.” Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Treasury Department and Ukraine’s foreign ministry for comments.
White House Meeting Tensions
Bessent allegedly made these comments to his associates amidst concerns over Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with Trump on February 28, which led to a tense exchange between the leaders. Zelensky’s visit aimed to sign a minerals deal and hold a joint press conference with Trump, intended to show solidarity. However, the meeting turned into a shouting match, with Vice President JD Vance criticizing Zelensky for his perceived lack of gratitude for U.S. support and his choice of attire.
The confrontation was viewed as an unusual public exchange between heads of state, ending abruptly with the cancellation of the planned press conference. The minerals agreement, a key goal for Zelensky’s visit, was also cancelled. Eventually, in April, the two countries signed a joint investment fund deal linked to future revenues from developing Ukraine’s resources. Excerpts from Regime Change indicate Bessent advised Trump against inviting Zelensky to the White House until U.S. terms on Ukraine’s mineral endowment were accepted.
Bessent and Zelensky’s Interactions
Days before the White House meeting, Bessent traveled to Kyiv to negotiate terms of a potential minerals deal, where the interaction between him and Zelensky reportedly became contentious. According to the authors, the pair engaged in a heated exchange, with Bessent questioning Zelensky’s intentions.
The Financial Times had previously detailed this meeting, with Trump remarking that Bessent was treated rudely in Kyiv. Bessent described the exchange as “very heated” and criticized Zelensky’s behavior during the Oval Office meeting on February 28, calling it “one of the greatest diplomatic own goals in history.” In an interview, Bessent expressed shock over Zelensky’s behavior in the Oval Office, highlighting the disrespect he felt was shown to American representatives.
Leave a Reply