Like many, I’m still processing what happened in the oval office yesterday. I encourage all readers to listen to the entire event.

Trump partisans are blaming Zelensky, Trump opponents are blaming Mr. Trump (and/or Mr. Vance). The question I have is simply this: Who invited the media in here? Mr. Trump controlled this completely (there is no way that Mr. Zelensky set up the media coverage). Either 1) Mr. Trump did not have the prep to the meeting properly done, or 2) Mr. Zelensky had privately agreed with everything that Mr. Trump wanted and then used the public session to reverse course in order to pressure Mr. Trump, or 3) Mr. Trump wanted the scene to unfold something like it did. Maybe there are other options–but these three seem most likely to capture the possibilities. I find #2 implausible, as I haven’t heard Mr. Trump (or Mr. Vance) say this in the aftermath. The other two options reflect badly on the Trump Administration. Even if Mr. Zelensky is being intransigent (which is what Mr. Trump asserts), it’s still on Mr. Trump to “do the deal” in private and have agreement before going public. Much more could be said (and is being said all over the media), but the only thing that matters today is Russia and Putin are smiling, and Ukrainians and Mr. Zelensky are demoralized. For a president who is trying to split the middle, he doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job.