A forthcoming book about President Donald Trump’s second administration is drawing attention over claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately urged Trump not to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House before a tense Oval Office meeting in 2025.
According to Regime Change, a new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, several Trump aides worried that the meeting could turn into a confrontation. The book claims Bessent was among those who advised against allowing Zelenskyy into the White House before Ukraine had signed a minerals agreement sought by the administration.
The book also alleges that Bessent used insulting language to describe Zelenskyy in private conversations. The reported remarks have drawn attention because they allegedly involved a sitting U.S. cabinet official speaking about a wartime leader whose country remains dependent on Western support against Russia’s invasion.
The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to the reported claims. Because the allegations come from a book excerpt, they should be treated as reported accounts unless directly confirmed by the people involved.
TRENDING TODAY
The meeting in question took place on Feb. 28, 2025, and became one of the most controversial diplomatic moments of Trump’s second term. Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy during the Oval Office encounter, accusing him of being insufficiently grateful for U.S. support. The exchange was widely viewed as a major setback in U.S.-Ukraine relations.
At the time, the administration was pushing a minerals deal that would give the United States access to Ukrainian resources as part of a broader arrangement tied to reconstruction, security and continued support. The agreement became a key part of Trump’s effort to reshape the U.S. relationship with Kyiv around economic returns rather than traditional security commitments.
According to the book, Bessent had traveled to Kyiv before the Oval Office meeting to press Zelenskyy on the deal, but the effort reportedly ended in a heated exchange. The book portrays the negotiations as tense and disorganized, with disputes inside the Trump administration over how the agreement should be written.
The reported claims add another layer to the already strained relationship between Trump’s team and Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly questioned the scale of U.S. aid to Kyiv, while Zelenskyy has continued to push for stronger security guarantees as Russia’s war continues.
For Ukraine, the 2025 Oval Office clash became a symbol of uncertainty over American support. For Trump’s allies, it was presented as an example of a president demanding accountability from a foreign leader receiving U.S. assistance.
The book’s account may also create complications for Bessent, who has been a key figure in Trump’s economic policy and Ukraine negotiations. If the reported remarks are accurate, critics are likely to argue they reveal a dismissive attitude toward a U.S. partner in wartime.
Supporters of the administration may dismiss the book as another hostile insider account or argue that private frustration over difficult negotiations is not unusual. They may also point out that the administration’s goal was to secure a better deal for U.S. taxpayers.
Still, the controversy comes as Ukraine aid remains a major issue in Washington and among U.S. allies. With the war continuing and Europe pressing for sustained support, any new reporting about internal hostility toward Zelenskyy is likely to fuel debate over Trump’s foreign policy.
Why It Matters
The claims matter because they shed light on how senior U.S. officials may have viewed Ukraine’s wartime leadership during a critical diplomatic period. They also raise questions about whether the Trump administration approached Ukraine primarily as a security partner or as a negotiating opponent in a resource deal.
What Comes Next
The book’s release may bring further details about the Trump administration’s internal debates over Ukraine, Russia and foreign aid. Bessent or the Treasury Department may also face pressure to respond to the reported remarks, while lawmakers and allies watch for signs of how the administration plans to handle future support for Kyiv.
A social media post highlighted reported book claims about Scott Bessent’s private comments on Zelenskyy and the 2025 Oval Office meeting.
According to the British Media-
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Zelensky’s a little fucker, he also refers to him as “a special needs child” and “Mr Bean on Crack” pic.twitter.com/DNXDAbLMmk
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) June 20, 2026
