(WASHINGTON, DC – March 9, 2025) – Is this truly what America stands for? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sat in the Oval Office and was publicly berated by both U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. In front of the media, they essentially told him that he had no right to an opinion—especially one that didn’t align with their administration. It was as if they expected Zelenskyy to grovel before Trump.
When my family moved back to the Westside of Baltimore, I was about eight years old. Before that, I was an Eastsider. One of my earliest memories of West Baltimore was witnessing two or three people ganging up on one person in a fight. In Baltimore street slang, that person was getting “banked.”
Now, while I’ve seen that kind of behavior in the streets, I never imagined witnessing a verbal “banking” unfold in the White House—broadcast for the world to see. At nearly 60 years old, I cannot recall a sitting American president ever engaging in such a petty confrontation with a foreign leader—let alone one whose country is in the middle of a war and relies on U.S. support. And then, to top it off, Zelenskyy was kicked out of the White House.
What struck me most was a video clip I saw on social media. In it, an American white man was in tears. He was deeply embarrassed by Trump and Vance’s behavior, ashamed of what his country had become.
I applaud that man. At a time when this administration is pardoning January 6th insurrectionists and rushing to defend George Floyd’s murderer, Derek Chauvin—doing everything possible to deepen America’s racial divide—this man spoke truth. America’s image is deteriorating in the eyes of the world, and our leadership is to blame.
And then there’s Elon Musk—playing the victim in South Africa, a country where the Black majority still suffers under apartheid-like conditions, living on the worst land in a nation rich in diamonds.
I haven’t traveled extensively, but I’ve been to enough countries to understand how many non-Americans see us. Simply put, we are often viewed as “the ugly American”—entitled, self-absorbed, and arrogant. Sure, other nations welcome our dollars, but beneath the surface, many despise us.
The first time this president truly alarmed me was when he picked a fight with Canada. Now, I’m not saying Canada is a utopia, but who picks a fight with Canada? They are one of the most neutral nations on Earth. Yet, when Trump first took office, he even floated the idea of annexing parts of the country. Really? We’re now bullying our neighbors—for all the world to see?
And let’s not forget Haiti, a nation in desperate need of American support. I’ll save that discussion for another time, but suffice it to say, the American people must speak up. We must contact our representatives in Congress and demand better.
There are good people in America—people of all backgrounds who value integrity. Many of us were raised to show respect, to carry ourselves with dignity. Some of us even had parents who spanked us, not out of cruelty, but to teach us right from wrong.
Clearly, the administration at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue does not care about class, integrity, or manners. As a Black American, I can say that we warned the rest of the country not to vote for Trump. And while many of his supporters now suffer from buyer’s remorse, we must all come together and make our voices heard. The world is watching.
To the people of the world, I extend my sincerest apologies for the disgraceful actions of this country’s current leadership. In my heart, I do not believe the majority of Americans condone the way Zelenskyy, Ukraine, or Canada have been treated. While many of us are unsurprised by this president’s behavior, that does not make it any less shameful.
