Thomas L. Friedman, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times, has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s proposed strategy for Ukraine. In a recent op-ed, Friedman described the plan as a “disgrace,” suggesting it undermines both American values and international alliances.
Friedman’s Condemnation of the Peace Deal
Friedman asserts that Trump’s attempts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize are misguided. He claims, “Finally, 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.”
The op-ed highlights the negotiations led by Trump’s associates, including Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, and Dan Driscoll. Friedman accuses them of facilitating a surrender of Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin without proper consultation with Ukraine or European allies. He emphasizes that Ukraine has been pressured to accept the terms of the deal by Thanksgiving, which falls on November 23, 2023.
The Risks of Surrendering to Putin
Friedman warns that if Ukraine is compelled to agree to the proposed terms, the significance of Thanksgiving will be altered dramatically. He asserts, “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.” He believes it would mark a victory for Putin in what Friedman describes as a “savage and misbegotten war” against Ukraine.
Further, Friedman suggests that the United States’ acquiescence to Putin’s demands would have broader implications for Europe. He states, “By rewarding Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine… the U.S. will be putting the whole European Union under Putin’s thumb.” He argues that Trump’s message to European allies would be clear: “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.”
In concluding his critique, Friedman introduces the term “Trumped,” suggesting it will symbolize being sold out by an American president for reasons that remain unclear to the public. He warns that history will remember those involved in this decision, stating, “And history will never forget the men who did it — Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, Marco Rubio, Dan Driscoll — for their shame will be everlasting.”
