Zelenskyy-Trump meeting chaos as veggie prices surge 40 percent

The David Pakman Show - August 19, 2025

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office after Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. Trump backed away from demanding a ceasefire, instead pushing for a peace deal that would force Ukraine to give up territory. He also pressed Zelenskyy on holding elections during the war and joked about suspending U.S. elections in wartime. The meeting showed Trump taking a softer line with Putin and a tougher stance on Ukraine, alarming European allies.

At the Ukrainian-European Summit, Trump appeared confused while introducing the President of Finland, looking around despite the leader being nearby. Similar incidents, like missing Rudy Giuliani across from him, have prompted commentary about possible cognitive decline. Trump’s deference to Putin continued at the summit, when he interrupted a meeting to take a late-night call from Putin. He described the call as respectful, emphasizing personal warmth toward the Russian president.

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After the meetings, Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, deflecting blame for the Ukraine war. He faulted former President Obama for “giving away” Crimea and portrayed Ukraine’s requests for NATO membership or reclaiming territory as unreasonable. Trump repeatedly praised Putin as a skilled negotiator while framing Ukraine as making excessive demands, downplaying Russian aggression.

Domestically, Trump’s policies are straining the economy. U.S. wholesale vegetable prices surged nearly 40% in July due to tariffs, harvest issues, extreme weather, and labor shortages tied to immigration enforcement. Restaurants and grocery stores are reporting higher costs, which will eventually reach consumers, contradicting Trump’s promises of declining grocery prices.

In Washington, D.C., federal actions are causing economic harm. Trump’s federalization of the city’s police coincided with a 31% drop in restaurant reservations, as militarized streets with ICE, DEA, and National Guard personnel deterred locals and tourists. Combined with tariffs, labor disruptions, and pending federal legislation affecting social programs, these measures are creating a self-inflicted economic downturn.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has rattled Trump by mocking his all-caps Truth Social posts and engaging strategically in debates like California’s redistricting plan. Newsom’s satire has visibly changed Trump’s posting behavior and coincides with a surge in his polling and betting market support, signaling early momentum for a potential 2028 campaign.

On today’s bonus show:

A Democratic Texas lawmaker stages an overnight protest on the State House floor to oppose Republican redistricting efforts. Trump vows to end mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms. And Former Senator Sherrod Brown launches a comeback bid in Ohio, aiming to reclaim a Senate seat in a competitive race.

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