Donald Trump shocks viewers with what he said to Ukrainian reporter whose husband is fighting Russia
During a recent NATO summit in The Hague, Donald Trump caused quite a stir with how he responded to a Ukrainian journalist during a press conference. The event brought together leaders from NATO countries to talk about global security and strategy, but it was a moment between Trump and a reporter that drew a lot of attention online.
The journalist, Myroslava Petsa from BBC Ukrainian, asked Trump whether the U.S. would provide more Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine, especially since Russia has been attacking heavily. Instead of answering right away, Trump asked her personal questions like whether she was currently living in Ukraine. She explained that her husband is a soldier still in Ukraine, while she and their children are staying in Warsaw for safety.
When she confirmed that her husband is serving in the Ukrainian military, Trump responded by saying, “That’s rough stuff. That’s tough,” showing what some thought might be a rare moment of empathy. He eventually circled back to her original question, saying that Ukraine does want more Patriot missiles and that the U.S. might try to help, though it would be difficult because those systems are in high demand and also needed by Israel.
Trump added that the Patriot systems are “100 percent effective”—a claim some experts would argue is exaggerated. He wrapped up by acknowledging how emotional the topic must be for the reporter and said, “Say hello to your husband, ok?”
This moment left many people online surprised. Some commented that this was the most calm and compassionate they’d ever seen Trump, suggesting he seemed more human and decent than usual. Others weren’t convinced and felt his response came across as dismissive or patronizing. They thought he avoided directly addressing the seriousness of Ukraine’s situation and instead focused on small talk.
Later, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy said he and Trump had discussed the need for more U.S. air defense systems, and Ukraine is ready to buy them to protect their cities. They also talked about possibly working together to make drones, showing Ukraine’s interest in deeper cooperation with American defense companies.
The Patriot missile system is designed to detect incoming threats with radar and shoot them down with interceptor missiles, offering strong defense against aerial attacks. Although the system is respected, calling it “100 percent effective” oversimplifies its real-world performance.
Trump’s earlier statements about Ukraine had been more critical—he once accused Ukraine of always wanting to buy weapons and blamed them, wrongly, for starting the conflict. So, this brief moment of apparent kindness stood out, but it didn’t convince everyone. Some saw it as a rare soft tone, while others thought it was more about dodging a serious conversation.
