Political Rhetoric Like Trump-Zelenskyi’s Has Deep Historical Roots

Volodymyr Zelenskyi's visit to the USA did not end well for the Ukrainians. Instead, it became an event that will be remembered even decades from now.

Finnish professor of American studies, Mikko Saikku from the University of Helsinki, assessed that Ukraine's President made "a tactical misstep. As I understand it, he had been warned not to publicly correct Trump’s statements, even if there was every reason to do so."

According to Saikku, Zelenskyi should have been more cautious in the meeting because the position of a petitioner is always inherently weak, and Trump clearly does not consider Ukraine's fate a personal concern. Furthermore, "Zelenskyi has long been an unpalatable figure to Trump because he is closely linked to Trump's first-term impeachment trial."

* * *

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the one gambling with the outbreak of a third world war is Russian President Vladimir Putin, not Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, as Trump incorrectly claimed. He also expressed hope that the United States would remain committed to defending democracy, as it always has.

For my part, I suspect that the current U.S. president may have fallen into a Moscow honey trap long ago, as has been suggested for years. In this scenario, he would have ended up engaging in sexual activities with Russian prostitutes in front of hidden cameras and microphones. This would explain quite well the current U.S. president’s toothlessness regarding Vladimir Putin.

* * *

That said, the kind of political rhetoric witnessed in the U.S. is not new but rather quite old-fashioned. In fact, such an example was set as early as 1571 by Russia’s Tsar Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, and Sweden’s King John III Vasa.

It was initiated by Putin's distant predecessor, the Russian autocrat, who wrote to the Swedish king as follows:

"We, Ivan Vasilyevich, Lord and Grand Prince of all Russia, ruler of Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, etc., write to John, son of Gustav, who, according to his own claim, is King of Sweden, the Goths, and the Wends, and who, on his father's side, descends from a certain village in Småland. You do not know at all how you should write to us."

He went on to state that Sweden was not "a vast kingdom capable of defending you against all your enemies."

Finally, the Tsar concluded: "In your last letter, you wrote that you wish to keep the peace with us. If you were wise, you would understand that the distance from the earth to heaven is long."

John, son of Gustav Vasa, responded to the Tsar’s diplomatic phrasing in a letter dated April 18, 1573, as follows:

"What absurd and boorish arrogance, lies, and belittlement you direct at us. Surely, your father must have been some monk or peasant, since you write so incompetently, as if you had grown up among peasants and vagrants who understand nothing of honor."

John further continued:

"We thank God that all Christian kings have given us the respect we deserve, except for you, who possesses only the intellect of a pig."

Finally, John emptied his verbal arsenal by stating:

"May you yourself become a mere 'stratnik' (low-ranking servant), a dishonorable slave, an unchristian chief liar, and a tyrant, which you already truly are, since you do not value promises, honor, seals, letters, or truth, as has been well proven."

I leave it to you, my esteemed readers, to assess whether this distant historical example is fitting for Donald Trump and his administration. To my ears, at least, it did not sound civilized.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Are We on the Brink of World War III?
Trump’s America: Criminal or Benefactor?
Is President Putin on his way to repeat the destiny of Czar Nicholas II?