New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, alongside a coalition of Democratic governors, issued a scathing joint statement on Friday condemning President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their recent Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The governors accused Trump and Vance of using the “sacred Oval Office” to pressure Zelenskyy into aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sparking a fresh wave of political controversy.
The statement, signed by Governors Laura Kelly (Kansas), Andy Beshear (Kentucky), Tony Evers (Wisconsin), Bob Ferguson (Washington), Maura Healy (Massachusetts), Kathy Hochul (New York), Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico), Janet Mills (Maine), Phil Murphy (New Jersey), JB Pritzker (Illinois), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), Josh Stein (North Carolina), Tim Walz (Minnesota), and Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), alleged that Trump and Vance “berated” Zelenskyy for refusing to trust Putin’s assurances amid ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance used the sacred Oval Office to berate President Zelenskyy for not trusting Putin’s word,” the governors declared. “Americans must protect our values and stand against this reckless undermining of our allies.”
The meeting, which took place earlier this week, reportedly centered on U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine and Russia. While details of the discussion remain sparse, posts on X suggest that Trump and Vance pushed Zelenskyy to reconsider his skepticism toward Putin’s diplomatic overtures—a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who view it as a betrayal of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Governor Murphy, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, took the lead in rallying his fellow governors to issue the joint rebuke. Speaking to reporters in Trenton on Friday, Murphy emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
The governors’ statement comes at a time of heightened partisan division over U.S. foreign policy. Trump and Vance have repeatedly signaled a desire to reduce American involvement in overseas conflicts, a position that has clashed with Democratic calls to maintain robust support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who has relied heavily on U.S. aid since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, has found himself caught in the crossfire of this domestic political rift.
Reaction to the governors’ statement was swift. Supporters praised the Democratic leaders for standing up for democratic principles, with some X users calling it a “bold defense of America’s moral compass.” Critics, however, dismissed it as political grandstanding, arguing that Trump and Vance were simply pursuing a pragmatic approach to de-escalating global tensions.
“The Dems are just mad they’re not in charge anymore,” one X post read.
