“Did I say that?”
Donald Trump has said he’s “can’t believe” he called president Zelensky a dictator after meeting with Keir Starmer in Washington D.C.
He made the comments during a press conference yesterday afternoon (27 January) in which he was asked if he would apologise to the Ukrainian leader over his comments.
When prompted that he had called Zelenksy a dictator, the US president said: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.”
Meanwhile, the post in which he called the Ukrainian president a dictator is still on his Truth Social account.
When another reporter later asked Trump if he will apologise to Zelensky in person for calling him a dictator, the US president did not say he would.
“I think we’re going to have a very good meeting tomorrow morning, we’re going to get along really well, OK? Trump said of Zelensky.”
“We have a lot of respect – I have a lot of respect for him.
“We’ve given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money but they have fought very bravely, no matter how you figure it.
“Somebody has to use that equipment and they have been very brave in that sense.”
Meanwhile, Trump also provided a moment of humour as he said Starmer had a “beautiful accent” and that he “would have been president 20 years ago” with the same accent.
This meeting in America comes just days after Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting in which he claimed that the EU was “formed to screw the US” after he threatened to hit the European bloc with 25% tariffs.
The threat of increased tariffs on Europe is just the latest in continuing tensions rising between the EU, UK and US disagreeing on how best to handle the war in Ukraine.
Trump has also been throwing his weight around since his administration came to power, using tariffs as bartering tools to get what he wants.
He has already threatened neighbours Mexico and Canada with 25% tariffs, leading to both nations striking a deal to delay their implementation.
Now, during his first cabinet meeting of his second term yesterday, Trump has taken aim at Europe.
The president said that the EU was “formed to screw the US” and that the details of the tariffs for Europe would soon be released.
He said: “We have made a decision and we’ll be announcing it very soon. It’ll be 25%.”
The EU has already responded to Trump’s threats saying they vow to respond “firmly and immediately” describing the trade barrier as “unjustified”.
A European Commission spokesperson said: “The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies. The EU will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariffs.”
The 27-country-strong union is the United States’ third largest trading partner alongside China.
The 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico are set to be implemented from next week.
Earlier this week, Trump met with French president, Emmanuel Macron and discussed trade agreements.
Macron told Fox News: “Come on, you cannot have a trade war with China and Europe at the same time. I hope I convinced him.”
Meanwhile the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has said the EU should do all it can to avoid “totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars”.
On Wednesday, the US president took to his own social media platform, Truth Social to argue against critics of his tariff scheme, saying they were “soooo wrong”.
He wrote: “The tariffs will drive massive amounts of auto manufacturing to MICHIGAN, a State which I just easily one [sic] in the Presidential Election.
