Waltz: US Officials Advised Trump Not to Go Ahead With Zelenskyy Meeting After Oval Office Clash

Waltz recalled telling Zelenskyy, ‘Look, Mr. President, time is not on your side here.’

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 28, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

National security adviser Michael Waltz said on March 1 that administration officials had advised President Donald Trump to avoid a follow-up meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the latter clashed with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in a heated White House exchange the previous day.

Speaking with Fox News’ Charlie Hurt, Waltz explained how he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to speak with Zelenskyy after the Ukrainian president was escorted out of the Oval Office.