this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2025

420 points (99.3% liked)

News

37047 readers

2624 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil

Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.

2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.

Obvious biased sources will be removed at the mods’ discretion. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted separately but not to the post body. Sources may be checked for reliability using Wikipedia, MBFC, AdFontes, GroundNews, etc.

3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.

Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.

4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source. Clickbait titles may be removed.

Posts which titles don’t match the source may be removed. If the site changed their headline, we may ask you to update the post title. Clickbait titles use hyperbolic language and do not accurately describe the article content. When necessary, post titles may be edited, clearly marked with [brackets], but may never be used to editorialize or comment on the content.

5. Only recent news is allowed.

Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.

6. All posts must be news articles.

No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials, videos, blogs, press releases, or celebrity gossip will be allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Mods may use discretion to pre-approve videos or press releases from highly credible sources that provide unique, newsworthy content not available or possible in another format.

7. No duplicate posts.

If an article has already been posted, it will be removed. Different articles reporting on the same subject are permitted. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.

8. Misinformation is prohibited.

Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.

9. No link shorteners or news aggregators.

All posts must link to original article sources. You may include archival links in the post description. News aggregators such as Yahoo, Google, Hacker News, etc. should be avoided in favor of the original source link. Newswire services such as AP, Reuters, or AFP, are frequently republished and may be shared from other credible sources.

10. Don't copy entire article in your post body

For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

JonsJava@lemmy.world

gedaliyah@lemmy.world

little_cow@lemmy.world

420

‘Traitor’: US representatives call for Trump envoy Witkoff to be fired after leaked Kremlin call (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 4 months ago by nulluser@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

23 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A handful of US representatives have reacted furiously to a leaked recording in which the special envoy to Ukraine reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Donald Trump, but most have so far remained mute on the revelation that American officials were advising a US adversary.

Don Bacon, a Republican representative, called for Steve Witkoff’s immediate dismissal. “For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,” the Nebraska lawmaker wrote on X.

“He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.”

Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican wrote that the leak represented “a major problem” and “one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop”. He urged that the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, be allowed to “do his job in a fair and objective manner”.

Democratic representative Ted Lieu went further, calling Witkoff an “actual traitor,” and adding: “Steve Witkoff is supposed to work for the United States, not Russia.”

all 26 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] nulluser@lemmy.world 86 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Trump defended Witkoff on Tuesday night. “That’s what a dealmaker does. You’ve got to say look, they want this, you’ve got to convince them of this,” Trump said while onboard Air Force One. “That’s a very standard form of negotiation.” He added that he imagined Witkoff “is saying the same thing to Ukraine”.

That's not negotiation! That's not deal making! That's outright capitulation to the aggressor in a war that should never have been started.

You’ve got to say look, they want this, you’ve got to convince them of this

But that's not what he was saying. He was coaching them on how to convince YOU, Mr. Trump, on how to manipulate YOU, Mr Trump, to get you to help them to get everything they want.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

When the car dealer is telling you that they're going to try to convince their manager to accept your deal, you know they're not actually fighting for you right?

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Are they "coaching" their boss? Is that your argument?

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago

No, they're both working you.

"Listen, if it were up to me I'd give you the car for free! But it's my boss whose being a pain. Here's what you need to do to convince him...."

It's standard "I'm pretending to be on your side against my boss" stuff any car buyer has dealt with.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

That’s not negotiation! That’s not deal making!

It is. Just not in your interest. Might be worth asking what Trump thinks he's getting out of it. Did someone at a Russian bank just pick up another $50M in Trumpcoin recently? How will a brokered peace enrich Trump's family and friends?

The US isn't Ukraine and Trump isn't capitulating to an enemy, he's carving up Ukrainian territory alongside an erstwhile ally. He's making deals, he's just not on your side of the board.

He was coaching them on how to convince YOU, Mr. Trump, on how to manipulate YOU

He's an agent of the Trump administration selling a deal brokered by Russia to his boss, presumably by promising the kind of quid pro quo Trump would endorse.

What's notable is how sloppy and slapdash the dealmaking was for the benefit of the public at-large. Trump's team might have gotten out cleaner if the authors of the deal hadn't just chucked it through Babblefish to get an English translation.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 44 points 4 months ago (4 children)

What is the penalty for actual, Constitutionally defined treason? Getting fired in that context does not mean merely losing your job.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 months ago

Can't have constitutional treason if you don't follow the law.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 months ago

A cushy job in the private sector.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It should be death. At least, I hope it is.

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I believe it is death only in time of war.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's the US. We're always at war with someone. Right now it's Venezuela

[–] REDACTED 4 points 4 months ago

Russia has also repeatedly said they're at war with NATO, and the entire 28-point plan revolves around US being forced to give industry help and secrets to Russia, stop NATO expansion and give money to Russia. Pretty clear Russia is at hybrid war with US and US is surrendering

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

actual, Constitutionally defined treason?

The kind where you actually have to be in a state of war with another country? A war that was legally declared by the US congress? Since the last time the US declared war was during WWII, and every enemy country in that war was defeated, I don't think "actual, Constitutionally defined treason" is possible today.

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 30 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Trump said while onboard Air Force One. “That’s a very standard form of negotiation.” He added that he imagined Witkoff “is saying the same thing to Ukraine”.

He imagines? He doesn't know what his personal negotiator is saying? That's enlightening.

[–] Kirp123@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

You think Trump is actually working? He just lets his goons do whatever and if they do good he just claims their achievements. He's way too busy with interior design at the White House, golfing, napping and watching Fox News to actually check up on them.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I'm sure he does all these things, but I wouldn't be surprised if these were the only things he was actually involved in, if only because they seem important to him based on his brand as the master negotiator, and it's a great opportunity to stroke his ego by scoring a few proxy victories.

[–] nickiwest@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Don't forget hate-watching the late-night shows.

[–] blacklisted@lemmy.org 23 points 4 months ago

Fired? How about indicted?

[–] mrdown@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago

He should hsvr been fired since he leaked discudsion about Yemen

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 11 points 4 months ago

A handful of US representatives have reacted furiously to a leaked recording in which the special envoy to Ukraine reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Donald Trump,

Only a handful?

Wtf??

This government shows their incompetence more and more as each day passes.

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago

There are plenty of US politicians working for fucking Moscow and it starts at the very top.

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

He was sent by someone to do this. No wonder Trump is defending him. He know if they throw him under the bus he might talk.

[–] TheMinister@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Horrendous, another in a long list of trump-Russia weirdness. There’s like no doubt there are a lot of republicans in bed with Russia, right? Insane.

All that said…

During the conversation, Ushakov said Putin would congratulate Trump and call him “a real peace man”.

The incredibly low bar to manipulate trump. “A real peace man?” It’s like, did they dumb down that language for Putins sake, or for trumps? The fact that you can’t tell is fucking telling.