Trump says Zelensky ‘not a good guy’ in Newsmax interview, calls for new Ukrainian elections
President Donald Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Oct. 16, 2026 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “not a good guy for us to deal with,” adding that the Kyiv‑led strikes on Russian oil refineries were pushing global fuel prices higher.
The remarks, made during a televised interview from the United States, represent a sharp escalation in Trump’s public criticism of Kyiv and could shape U.S. diplomatic posture as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year.
“Zelensky is not a good guy for us to deal with… If they’re going to end up with a settlement of some kind, they’re not going to do it with him. He doesn’t want to settle,” Trump said.
Trump also linked the higher energy costs to Zelensky’s decision to resume attacks, calling the targeting of diesel refineries “a disgrace” that harms the world’s need for fuel. He asserted that the attacks contradict the “energy ceasefire” he announced earlier in the week, a truce that never materialized because Russia never consented.
Beyond the energy issue, the president blamed former President Joe Biden for providing Zelensky with billions of dollars in aid, and former President Barack Obama for policies that, in Trump’s view, allowed Russia to annex Crimea in 2014. He argued that those past decisions have left the United States in a position where “they’ve destroyed that country.”
Trump’s interview also featured a reference to a Ukrainian woman’s angry statement that “President Zelensky has destroyed our country” and that many Ukrainian men are “dead or in mental institutions.” He used the comment to underscore his belief that Zelensky’s leadership is harming his own people.
On the diplomatic front, Trump called for a new presidential election in Ukraine, saying a different leader is needed to negotiate peace. Zelensky has responded that an election could be held if Russia agrees to a two‑month ceasefire, a condition Moscow has yet to accept.
The president also addressed recent reports that the United States had limited Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite network, a military‑grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink. While Trump did not confirm the order, he suggested that any restrictions would be part of his administration’s policy.
As the interview concluded, Trump reiterated that dealing with Zelensky is “more difficult” than dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the deep personal and political animosity between the two leaders. The remarks came as U.S. lawmakers continue to debate additional aid to Kyiv and the broader strategy for ending the conflict.
