A prominent foreign affairs expert has sharply criticized former President Donald Trump’s proposed deal regarding Ukraine, describing it as a “disgrace.” Thomas L. Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and Opinion columnist for the New York Times, condemned Trump for his attempts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize through a plan that he believes undermines American values and allies.
In his recent column, Friedman expressed concerns about the implications of the deal, stating, “Finally, President Trump just might get a peace prize that would secure his place in history. Unfortunately, though, it is not that Nobel Peace Prize he so covets. It is the ‘Neville Chamberlain Peace Prize’ — awarded by history to the leader of the country that most flagrantly sells out its allies and its values to an aggressive dictator.”
Friedman accused Trump and key figures within his administration, including Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, and Dan Driscoll, of negotiating a plan that capitulates to Vladimir Putin without adequate consultation with Ukraine or European allies. He stated that the plan required Ukraine to accept its terms by Thanksgiving, which falls on November 24, 2023.
The implications of this deal, Friedman asserts, could fundamentally alter the nature of Thanksgiving in America. He warned, “If Ukraine is, indeed, forced to surrender to the specific terms of this ‘deal’ by then, Thanksgiving will no longer be an American holiday. It will become a Russian holiday.” Friedman elaborated that this would symbolize a victory for Putin, achieved not through military prowess but through American policy decisions.
Friedman further emphasized the deal’s detrimental effects on the European Union’s security, asserting that the U.S. would be effectively placing Europe under Putin’s influence. He articulated a message that would resonate with America’s allies: “Don’t provoke Putin, because as long as I am commander in chief, the United States will pay no price and we will bear no burden in the defense of your freedom.”
If this plan is enacted, Friedman proposed a new term for international relations: “Trumped,” meaning to be sold out by an American president without public justification. He concluded with a strong indictment of the individuals involved, stating, “History will never forget the men who did it — Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, Dan Driscoll — for their shame will be everlasting.”
Friedman’s remarks reflect a broader concern among foreign policy experts regarding the potential consequences of U.S. foreign policy decisions and their impact on international alliances and democratic values.
