Trump Blames Zelenskyy for Starting War After Palm Sunday Massacre

Summary

Bulwark Takes: Trump Blames Zelenskyy for Starting War After Palm Sunday Massacre – Episode Summary

Release Date: April 14, 2025

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, members of The Bulwark team, including Tim Miller and an Unnamed Analyst, delve into the controversial statements made by former President Donald Trump during a recent Oval Office press conference. The discussion centers around Trump's unfounded claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the war in Ukraine, following a devastating missile attack on Palm Sunday that resulted in significant civilian casualties.

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1. Episode Introduction

The episode opens with brief promotional segments for Chumba Casino, which are promptly skipped by the hosts to dive into the core content. Tim Miller introduces the topic, setting the stage for an extensive analysis of Trump's latest rhetoric concerning the Ukraine conflict.

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2. Contextual Background

Tim Miller provides essential context about the Palm Sunday Massacre, describing it as potentially the worst civilian casualty event in the Ukraine war, with 34 dead and hundreds wounded due to a missile attack. This tragic event serves as the backdrop for Trump's contentious statements.

Notable Quote:

• [01:15] Tim Miller: "There was potentially the worst civilian casualty event in Ukraine of the entire war on Palm Sunday over about 34 dead, hundreds wounded, seriously wounded, missile attack."

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3. Trump's Oval Office Press Conference

The discussion shifts to the press conference where Trump interacted with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. The Unnamed Analyst criticizes the assembly as a "ludicrous dystopian Oval Office press conference," highlighting Trump's refusal to repatriate Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Venezuelan national wrongfully detained in an El Salvador concentration camp.

Notable Quote:

• [00:30] Unnamed Analyst: "Miller from the Bulwark here. To wall coverage of just that ludicrous dystopian Oval Office press conference between Donald Trump and El Salvador President Bukele."

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4. Trump's Blame on Zelenskyy

The crux of the episode focuses on Trump's baseless assertion that President Zelenskyy is responsible for initiating the war in Ukraine. Tim Miller and the Unnamed Analyst vehemently oppose this claim, labeling it as "gaslighting" and a blatant falsehood.

Notable Quotes:

• [02:26] Unnamed Analyst: "What start a war? What is he talking about? What are you talking about?"
• [02:54] Tim Miller: "Zelensky didn't start a war. Trump is doing this."
• [03:38] Unnamed Analyst: "We have a big lie."

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5. Analyzing Trump's Motivations and Character

The hosts explore the psychological underpinnings of Trump's statements, suggesting that his attacks on Zelenskyy stem from personal insecurities and jealousy. They argue that Trump's need to demean Zelenskyy is a tactic to elevate his own flawed image.

Notable Quotes:

• [04:41] Unnamed Analyst: "Trump knows that Zelensky has shown actual courage."
• [05:00] Tim Miller: "And Trump's jealous. He's a coward. He has no personal character or courage."
• [05:25] Tim Miller: "He must bring him down to his level, and make him out to be the bad guy."

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6. Implications for U.S. Policy and International Relations

The episode underscores the potential dangers of Trump's rhetoric on U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding support for Ukraine. Tim Miller emphasizes that weakening support for Ukraine based on Trump's unfounded claims would be a "horrible decision," irrespective of any policy arguments that might be presented.

Notable Quotes:

• [03:56] Tim Miller: "If, as a country, we want to decide that we don't want to support Ukraine any longer, I think that would be a horrible decision."
• [04:19] Tim Miller: "There's one bad guy, Putin."

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7. Conclusion and Ongoing Monitoring

As the episode wraps up, the hosts commit to continuous monitoring of developments related to Bukele, El Salvador, and the broader Ukraine conflict. They stress the importance of staying informed and vigilant against misinformation that could destabilize international support systems.

Notable Quotes:

• [06:04] Unnamed Analyst: "We have something more deeply psychological here."
• [06:49] Tim Miller: "I'm pretty annoyed and dispirited that this male psychodrama... is going to lead to more death in Ukraine and in a more unstable world."

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8. Final Thoughts

Bulwark Takes effectively dissects Trump's misleading narrative blaming Zelenskyy for the Ukraine war, highlighting the dangerous implications of such rhetoric on international alliances and humanitarian efforts. The episode serves as a critical examination of misinformation in political discourse and its real-world consequences.

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For those interested in understanding the intricate dynamics of U.S. foreign policy and the impact of political rhetoric on global conflicts, this episode of Bulwark Takes offers a comprehensive and incisive analysis.

Transcript

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[Tim Miller]

Terms and conditions apply hey guys, Tim.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Miller from the Bulwark here.

[Tim Miller]

We are obviously going to have wall.

[Unnamed Analyst]

To wall coverage of just that ludicrous dystopian Oval Office press conference between Donald Trump and El Salvador President Bukele. And so much obviously to get into regarding his refusal to return the man that we wrongfully sent to the El Salvador concentration camp, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. JBL and Andrew had a video immediately reacting that you check out. I talked about Bill Kristol, but I want to focus on this other clip.

[Tim Miller]

That I don't want to get lost.

[Unnamed Analyst]

From the press conference where Trump is talking about the war in Ukraine. And just for context, people haven't seen it.

[Tim Miller]

There was potentially the worst civilian casualty event in Ukraine of the entire war on Palm Sunday over about 34 dead, hundreds wounded, seriously wounded, missile attack and.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Sumi and you know this was such a bad attack that even Rick Grinnell, Trump's butt boy, sent out a tweet calling Russia evil over it. Well, I guess he didn't check in with the boss because Donald Trump was discussing this situation with the war with Bukele. And I want to play you this just noxious reaction from our president. President Zelensky stir about his offer to.

[Tim Miller]

Purchase more Patriot missile batteries.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Oh I don't know, he's always looking to purchase missiles. You know he's against. Listen, when you start a war, you've got to know that you can win the war, right? You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.

[Tim Miller]

There it when you start a war, you got to know you can win a war. You don't start a war against somebody.

[Unnamed Analyst]

That'S 20 times your size.

[Tim Miller]

What start a war? What is he talking about? What are you talking about? Like this is such up is down bullshit. I get annoyed with the word gaslighting. It gets overused. Like this is gaslighting in the most extreme sense. Zelensky didn't start a war. Trump is doing this. Oh, you know, Ukraine's skirt was hiked.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Up a little too high.

[Tim Miller]

So you can't blame Russia for raping and pillaging the country, kidnapping children, killing people, bombing, trying to take territory. Like, I just. How can it just be that the President of the United States just advances these blatant, shameful lies and smears that are obviously false, that even his own fucking staff and supporters know are false? Not all supporters, but, like, everybody knows it. And instead, he is just trying to do the Trump thing.

[Unnamed Analyst]

We have a big lie.

[Tim Miller]

You create your own universe where.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Where there's some other reality.

[Tim Miller]

And I'm sorry, in this war, there is one bad guy, Putin. No matter what Trump's envoy wants you.

[Unnamed Analyst]

To think, no matter how many fucking.

[Tim Miller]

Paintings he brings, Trump, Putin has invaded Ukraine. If, as a country, we want to decide that we don't want to support Ukraine any longer, I think that would be a horrible decision. I would totally disagree with that. But there are certainly policy arguments you could make that, you know, it's not worth our resources or whatever. They're stupid policy arguments, but they're policy arguments. That's not what this is like. This is advancing a total falsehood lie smear that is made up out of thin air to try to create a post hoc rationalization for abandoning Ukraine, which.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Is what he wants to do. And here's the thing. There's something more deeply psychological here. Trump knows that Zelensky has shown actual courage.

[Tim Miller]

Trump knows that Zelensky is a leader.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Whose people actually love and respect him.

[Tim Miller]

And Trump's jealous.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Okay? Trump is jealous because he knows he's a coward. We've all seen the video of him getting scared by that little bird back in the Apprentice days.

[Tim Miller]

He's a coward. He has no personal character or courage.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Zelensky does. And so he must demean him.

[Tim Miller]

He must bring him down to his.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Level, his and Putin's level, you know, and make him out to be the bad guy. To rationalize the way that we're treating and to build Trump up into something that he's not.

[Tim Miller]

So I'm pretty annoyed and dispirited that this male psychodrama and the fact that Donald Trump didn't get hugged as a child and doesn't have a therapist is going to lead to more death in Ukraine and in a more unstable world.

[Unnamed Analyst]

But that's where we stand today. After, you know, it's kind of like, now you're going to start making a list. I was about to say one of the most appalling scenes in the history of our Oval Office. We've had so many of those now over the past eight years, on and off that, and that just goes on the list. So we will keep monitoring everything that is happening with Pukele, with El Salvador, with Alberto Garcia and all the other Venezuelans that were wrongfully sent to El Salvador, and of course, everything that's happening with the war in Ukraine as well. So subscribe to the feed, tell your friends, stick around. We'll see you soon.

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