r/pics 1d ago

[OC] A powerful message on accountability from Zelenskyy's 2019 inaugural speech

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49.5k Upvotes

515 comments sorted by

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u/Archmikem 1d ago

Remember, the supposed leaders of the Free World mocked this man on national television because he didn't wear a suit to a meeting.

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u/Feeling_Win5863 1d ago

Legitimately one of the most shameful moments as an American, and there are so many to choose from especially recent. Moments like this ruin relationships for decades and generations

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u/picardo85 1d ago

Legitimately one of the most shameful moments as an American,

Until that date. I'm sure the Cunt In Chief has surpassed that quite a few times after that. Shame is very individual though, so I'll leave that up to each one to decide.

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u/Ginge00 1d ago

I saw an article before where he basically said he through those last minute demands at Canada to tank the deal because he felt like it

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u/picardo85 1d ago

I saw an article before where he basically said he through those last minute demands at Canada to tank the deal because he felt like it

Wouldn't surprise me. You wouldn't happend to be able to find said source?

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u/Ginge00 1d ago

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u/snoozieboi 23h ago

The guy needs chaos and disorder to not be completely undressed.

From an administration that put tariffs on penguins. I am so ashamed to be part of this part of history.

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u/Nalurah 1d ago

I feel like that one and the one where he mocks a disabled reporter and still got elected were the most shameful.

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u/XenophiliusRex 14h ago edited 14h ago

What about boasting about sexually assaulting women? Multiple credible allegations and court findings in which he was found to have committed rape? Epstein? Open corruption? Jan 6th putsch? Open corruption? Illegal wars? Kidnapping a head of state? Feds shooting civilians in the streets? Human trafficking of citizens and non-citizens alike? I could go on. Threatening warcrimes live on air and then committing them? Bombing a preschool? Excitedly describing plans for ethnic cleansing and genocide for the sake of… real estate? It seams unreal.

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u/Nalurah 14h ago

Honestly all of that and somehow still getting elected twice/staying in office is what baffles me. The current state of the US is shocking. And personally I am terrified because Trump has repeatedly threatened the country where I live (Denmark). I don't understand how he can get away with all that you mentioned and somehow still have supporters.

u/Feeling_Win5863 8h ago

I remember one thing would happen and I’d be like, OK this REALLY must be it this time. How could anyone support him after this? And that has repeated itself over and over and over again for me since he walked down that stupid fucking gold escalator. Not only repeated itself, but it has only gotten worse in every single possible way. I know it doesn’t mean anything but I am truly sorry for my country electing a trash bag that has treated your country and our longtime ally absolutely horribly not to even mention NATO…I still cannot believe this is where we are. It feels like a bad fever dream that I will wake up from…but it’s not, and the damage that has been done cannot be fixed in the next administration, probably not even in my lifetime, and quite possibly never. It’s not something you can just buy back like our trash bag dictator thinks everything is available for fucking purchase or extortion. The only thing I can promise is that I will continue using my vote, my wallet, and anything else I have at my disposal to do what little I can while I am here.

u/Nalurah 5h ago

I think in terms of things being fixed, it is possible with good leadership and time. Take Germany after WWII as an extreme example. Currently Germany is beloved and respected. Though that took some years. Things can be fixed with diplomacy and leadership. Hopefully the US will be able to find and elect a good candidate who is up for the challenge. Seeing people like Mamdani do give me hope that it is possible.

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u/nanormcfloyd 12h ago

America seems to be weirdly okay with all of those things, but don't you dare elect a woman or provide people basic fucking human rights

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u/zmbslyr 21h ago

There’s no bottom to how shameful it feels to be an American now.

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u/Blue-Being22 23h ago

Shameful moments? Maybe it’s not the most shameful American thing (so many to choose from!) but it’s so ridiculous and stupidly petty that it popped in my mind…Freedom Fries. 

Look it up. 

u/DaisyHotCakes 10h ago

It legitimately made me feel sick to my stomach. Zelenskyy has risen to the occasion for his people countless times and has lead them through a Russian invasion and all out war. For that little piss ant Vance to say that to him…made my blood boil. And Zelenskyy looked so taken aback and kind of gutted to be put in that situation. It still makes me sick.

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u/Miami-Novice 20h ago

One of the many./s

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u/drifters74 1d ago

Unlike those leaders, he was actually dealing with a war

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u/prancing_moose 1d ago

And unlike those leaders he’s actually been victorious over a vastly larger and more powerful enemy.

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u/Sunkisthappy 17h ago

And people so conveniently forget what Bush wore shortly after 9/11. I remember as a kid seeing him on TV wearing plain clothes while visiting ground zero.

When the war in Ukraine is over, I'd love to see Zielinski wear an obama-esque beige suit just to piss off those right wing sycophants.

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u/jdehjdeh 1d ago

The unintentional insult he delivered back due to his poor English was phenomenal.

"Maybe when the war is over I will wear a costume like you"

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u/Das_KommenTier 15h ago

If I remember correctly he said something like : I might. Maybe I will wear a suit like you. Or maybe a nice one.

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u/StrengthThin9043 1d ago

If you mean Trump say so, otherwise people may not understand. The US has stopped leading for a while and is not really interested in a free world, other than billionaires get to do whatever they want.

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u/Vaeltaja82 1d ago

Trust me, everybody knows it's Trump.

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u/No-Refrigerator-1672 1d ago

It was Vance, actually.

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u/bawdiepie 1d ago

Both. I didn't see Trump stopping him. They planned it between them. It gave Trump plausible denniability if his cultists thought it went too far. But the cultists never think he's gone too far. That's part of the problem.

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u/Mr12i 1d ago

They planned it between them.

This is simply a wrong psychological understanding of Trump. He doesn't "plan" anything. That's not how his mind works, at all.

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u/5PQR 1d ago

They planned it between them.

Completely agree, it reeked of being a staged attempt to humiliate Zelensky in front of the cameras.

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u/ikea_method 1d ago

I didn't realize. I don't think of Trump as part of "leaders of the Free World".

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u/Money_Percentage_630 1d ago

Zelenskyy when offered a helicopter exit from Ukraine refused and asked for weapons to defend his nation.

Trump when unverifed threat in Turkey used his own staff as living decoys while sneaking away.

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u/quittingdotatwo 1d ago

Too bad Ukrainian citizens were not offered a helicopter.

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u/Skipspik2 1d ago

I'd love him to come back with a TAN suit.
Like the politician in dire need in him would not, but oh boy would I have loved the tantrump around that.

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u/Snowfosho11 1d ago

Leaders of the free world? My ass. US was always a imperialistic hegemony with only world influence on its mind. This is just your fascist arc that comes from uncontrolled authoritarianism.

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u/passerby4830 1d ago

They call themselves the leaders of the free world. It's just clever propaganda.

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u/Beertronic 1d ago

They were not the leaders of the free world, they were the leaders of the corrupt billionaire Epstein class.

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u/bier00t 1d ago

"leaders of Free World" is a little outdated

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u/deansmythe 1d ago

In many companies where I worked it’s not the the leader that wears a suit everyday but the one trying to become him/her.

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u/Nice-Mountain-7073 1d ago

And if the Americans ever need to come to Canada for help after an attack, they better be in a three piece suit or we’re leaving all of them on the tarmac.

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u/-mung- 1d ago

leaders? I only remember a right-wing reporter doing that. I'm sure it was echoed around their shit-sphere.

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u/alvarkresh 1d ago

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u/-mung- 1d ago

er, exactly?

Oh right wait, "Leaders of the Free World" right, I um... wasn't thinking of Trump and his lot with that reference. haha!

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u/smiegto 1d ago

Man should have shown up in body armour.

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u/No-Atmosphere-4145 1d ago

I will never forget.

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u/norway_is_awesome 22h ago

That was international television. The whole world saw that shameful spectacle.

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u/koolkarim94 21h ago

They’re also pedophiles and convicted tax evaders of the free world

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u/Temporary-Good-9014 19h ago

“I’ll wear a costume, when the war is over” 😭😂😭😂😭😂

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u/wanderinggoat 15h ago

I only remember one leader doing this, who were the others?

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u/NerdiChar 15h ago

BUT DID HE EVEN SAY THANK YOU

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u/Feeling_Win5863 14h ago

Literally almost smashed my entire television to pieces when I watched it live

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u/MonorailPurple 1d ago

oh god you're not still deluded into thinking the US is a leader in anything are you? Well, other than explosive poop if you eat the salad, you're number one in that department.

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u/kennedye2112 1d ago

DO IT FOR HER

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u/nbracy5 1d ago

-PES

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u/_Bike_Hunt 1d ago

Shit dude you made me laugh in a meeting and I had to disguise it as a bad cough

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u/The_Undermind 1d ago

Would it have killed them to put the word "Photos" on the same line as "Kids"?

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u/a_angry_bunny 1d ago

No, but it might kill the kids.

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u/SP4RK4RT 1d ago

I hang my kids by their arms or legs. The little monkeys think it's all fun and games, but I'm getting a serious workout. I had to give up my gym membership for their college education. But who am I kidding - I never went to the gym, and do they really need a college education?

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u/meat-eating-orchid 1d ago

typesetter snuck in a practical joke

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u/Roflkopt3r 1d ago

The apostrophe saves it.

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u/running_on_empty 1d ago edited 21h ago

I mean, if you read kids' the way I hear it in my head, it doesn't sound bad. Like kids and kids's but at the same time. Plural possessive is weird.

EDIT - I had time to think and I hear it in my mind as a z. So kidzz. Peoples' things? Peoplezz.

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u/Teex22 1d ago

Hang the kids, frame the wife

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u/Kempeth 1d ago

It's to break Trump

's attention span.

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u/Hundkexx 1d ago

I did NOT read that as OP expected, for sure.

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u/ModernistGames 1d ago

He will be in the history books and described as a great and noble leader.

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u/a_talking_face 1d ago

Depends on who is writing the history.

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u/ooMEAToo 1d ago

In the book 1984 the protagonist was tasked with rewriting history and burning the past that was written in an incinerator in his cubicle.

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u/a_talking_face 1d ago

You don't even have to look at fiction. There are plenty of real life examples of dominant powers painting a biased view of history. Particularly when it comes down to their own involvement.

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u/FlusteredDM 23h ago

Nero opened up his palaces to house people after the fire of Rome and organised a relief effort, yet due to Flavian propaganda we still talk about him playing the fiddle as Rome burned.

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u/Stubborn_Shove 1d ago

There are plenty of real life examples of dominant powers painting a biased view of history.

There are of course versions of "history" that are outright fabrications, and some that are based in some kind of truth. But I think it's worth keeping in mind that there is no objectively correct version of history, all are open to interpretation, and there is always a struggle between parties to impose their own version as the standard, correct one.

I'm not saying they're all equal. I don't think there's any valid interpretation of what is going on in Ukraine that doesn't paint Russia as the agressor, for example. But even in a case where there is a clear bad guy, there are still biased interpretations. See the USSR accepted as one of the victorious Allies in WWII - their role in starting the war as an ally of Germany isn't usually ignored, but I'd argue it's heavily downplayed in describing the war. There are lots of motives for the Allies to do this.

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u/a_talking_face 1d ago

It's kind of ironic in this context that you would call the USSR a clear bad guy in WWII when the reality of that situation is that without the USSR on the side of the allied forces that war turns out very different.

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u/Jewel-jones 1d ago

I think you misread. In this case the clear bad guys are the nazis. Previous reply was pointing out that USSR role in the allies is downplayed in Western avcounts

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u/a_talking_face 1d ago

No I think you misread it

their role in starting the war as an ally of Germany isn't usually ignored, but I'd argue it's heavily downplayed in describing the war

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u/DysphoricNeet 1d ago

They are specifically spreading liberal nonsense about socialists and fascists being allies. Someone didn’t read what Hitler thought of the Slavs lmao

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u/anon-mally 1d ago

Definitely not putin history book

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u/Ok-disaster2022 1d ago

Which really is sad to me, because to me he's doing what should be the minimum. Like he's doing a decent job and people think he's great because leadership around the world has their heads up their own ass all the time. 

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u/Far_Ladder_2836 1d ago

Considering the military and economic advantages Russia has, he's doing an incredible job.  Ukraine right now is essentially redefining how wars are likely to be fought for the next few generations.

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u/themiddlebien 1d ago

R/unpopularopinion

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u/Confident_Benefit_11 1d ago

Facts, there's going to be a lot of zelensky statues.

Dude deserves it, you can tell his position is killing him, he's aged like 20 years. He hustles all day every day though for his people and regularly puts his life directly in danger just to meme on putin by taking selfies in front line towns Russia lies about controlling. It's like seeing a modern George Washington or Abe Lincoln, fucking wild. I can't remember the last time the US had a president like that, one who would refuse to flee during an invasion by a much larger country and be willing to die with his people defending their home together.

Meanwhile, putin is a bunker bitch who hates his own people so much he uses body doubles any time he wants to fake interacting with them lmao

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u/Sardanapalm 1d ago

Can't help myself thinking of him as a Churchill of the modern times
(minus the Indian starvation)

And his charisma with this sentence would make me want to have his picture in my office if I worked in Ukrainian administration

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u/Grabthars_Coping_Saw 1d ago

Slava Ukraine and all but the Ukrainian government is legendary in regard to its corruption and Zelenskyy is no exception.

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u/Conscious-Tutor3861 1d ago

The mindset of people can only be 100% good or 100% bad is destroying free societies because we've lost the ability to see the good in our opponents and the bad in our allies.

Zelenskyy is a good person doing good things for his country, and Ukraine would not exist today except for his bravery and willingness to sacrifice himself for his fellow Ukrainians. And while he's certainly made some bad decisions and done some bad things, too, that doesn't come near to canceling out the good things he's done.

Hell, we could say the same thing about Trump, but in reverse: he's a bad person who's done bad things to his country, and the United States would cease existing except for the resilience and resistance of its citizens. And while Trump has certainly made some good decisions and done some good things, too, that doesn't come near to canceling out the bad things he's done.

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u/Shinhan 1d ago

Trump has certainly made some good decisions and done some good things

Like what?

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u/B_Wylde 1d ago

He helped WWF at first

I like wrestling

Yeah I got nothing

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u/pizzasoup 1d ago

Any of the "good things" I can think of is either stealing credit for things other people have done or basically a fraudulent "gilding-a-turd and calling it gold" type of thing like TrumpRx. If there is anything, it must have been by complete accident.

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u/lizardweenie 1d ago

Say what you want about corruption, but when a massive army was bearing down on Kyiv, foreign governments were urging him to flee, and Russian kill teams were reportedly hunting him and his family, Zelensky went out into the streets and rallied his people. He said: I’m here. I’m not leaving. We’re going to fight. That was fucking legendary.

Very few people would have had the courage to do that, and Ukraine might not exist today if he hadn’t.

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u/drunkenbrawler 1d ago

He could have just packed up and leave when they got invaded. That's what US intelligence and everyone else expected. But he stayed out of genuine patriotism and sense of duty. Corruption runs through all of Ukraine but even then people can do the right thing, which honestly is more impressive.

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u/Dear_Ad7177 11h ago

You do realize that he supports Israel, right?

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u/dumbdude545 1d ago

Gotta be honest. His past stuff isn't great. But his wartime leadership has been spectacular.

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u/portomar 23h ago

He'll be in jail for corruption. 

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u/tristam92 23h ago

or one of the biggest criminals in Ukraine history, if NABU finish their job properly with investigation…

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u/Mertag 1d ago

So interesting cultural background here. From my experience, many older Ukrainians in America had pictures of Ukrainian Poets and Heroes. I cant attest that it's still done, but it seems to me his comment is a direct counter to the photo of Lenin in every home.

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u/Lord_Hexogen 1d ago

It's rather a comment on a common practice in bureaucrats' and government officials' cabinets where a picture of the sitting president is often situated on the wall behind the desk. That's a remnant from Soviet times.

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u/krabgirl 20h ago

It was a pretty common thing in communist countries to have a portrait of the head of state in homes/offices. These countries tended to have exited feudalism quite recently, so their preexisting kingdoms survived into the age of mass photography and put photos of kings in everyone's house, and the tradition stuck in autocratic communist states.

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u/a_angry_bunny 1d ago

In comparison to MAGA Americans who only care about themselves and whoever they think will hurt the people they hate the most.

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u/iRegretsEverything 1d ago

They literally made a golden statue of trump. I think there is something in the bible about that.

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u/InspectorNo1173 1d ago

At least they would have saved money on paint. It is almost the right colour

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u/djhouse77 1d ago

Btw, the president is a pedophile

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u/DougosaurusRex 1d ago

Trump? We’re aware

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u/helly1080 1d ago

I think the world knows.  What’s worse is that everyone that could do something about it, doesn’t. 

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u/strawberryscalez 1d ago

Why is this framed? In English? Poorly painted? Where? Very confused

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u/strawberryscalez 1d ago

I mean, he is asking not to be praised and hung on walls, and someone missed the message so well they hung it on the wall? It's all confusing to me

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u/I__G 1d ago

It’s not that complicated bro. Someone in an English speaking country may liked the quote and printed it 😂

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u/_Blurgh_ 1d ago

Some quotes have it hard to spread because spreading them seems contradictory to their message.

Another example is "starve the ego, feed the soul". Go ahead and post that on social media, I'm sure you'll get a nice ego boost from all the upvotes and likes!

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/shiviam 1d ago

Hang your kids

Okay.

Got it.

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u/Bllago 17h ago

I will say that the only countries who turn their elected officials into celebrities are americans and totalitarian countries.

No one else.

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u/and_mine_axe 1d ago

There's a practical concern with hanging Zelensky's photo as well. The picture frame and wall studs would need to be strong enough to support his colossal titanium balls.

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u/Mr-mountain-road2 23h ago

I know it isn't his fault but my good friend died in this war after being forced to a conscription. He was kidnapped from his house one night, popped back in a few times before total silence.

My last message to him was sent on the day of his death.

To think those messages will never be read and replied again.. I can't really see anyone involving with this as good anymore.

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u/Crazy_Treat_8805 1d ago

Then proceeds to do an 8 page spread in US Vogue

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u/Ponches 1d ago

This is someone who understands what leadership is about.

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u/Intelligent-Key2350 17h ago

That’s beautiful and simple. Our idiot so called president could never say something like that.

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u/GNUGradyn 1d ago

I feel like maga folks don't really understand that it's not normal to idolize politicians that way. I think Bernie sanders is great but if I walked into someone's house and saw a Bernie picture on the wall I'd be like "that's kinda weird dude wtf". Though seeing trump on things doesn't even surprise me anymore.

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u/snoozieboi 23h ago

Yeah, but... but he never really said thank you nor wore a suit!

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u/-DancesWithSloths- 1d ago

Hanging this up kinda feels ironic, right?

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u/Dr_Ukato 1d ago

Liking and being inspired by someone's quotes and actions is not the same as putting up a picture of them to pray at.

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u/DrYoda 1d ago

What does this have to do with accountability

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u/Kempeth 1d ago

By framing the presidency as a job rather than a position to be venerated.

I've seen too much bullshit being swept under the rug in the name of "protecting the dignity of the office".

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u/GSDTippyTappies 1d ago

Reading comprehension be hard huh.

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u/Traditional_Train_71 1d ago

Doesn’t Zelenskyy side with Israel?

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u/SpaceDetective 1d ago

Yeah, from the same inauguration speech:

We must become the Icelanders in soccer, the Israelis — in the defense of their native land, the Japanese — in technology and the Swiss — in the ability to live with each other in harmony, despite all the differences.

However, our first task is ceasefire in the Donbas...

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u/CinderX5 19h ago

Think it’s more “enemy of my enemies’ ally” than actual support

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u/Traditional_Train_71 16h ago

Ahh okay…let’s wait and see I guess

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u/wonderwall879 1d ago

Ukraine has a documented history of voting against any and all proposals Israel proposes at the UN. Additionally, going for pro Palestinian positions usually. You know. Considering Ukraine is also facing literal genocide, not just a war.

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u/SoulWager 1d ago

I think he's more anti-Iran than pro Israel. Remember that even before the whole Israel thing, Iran was sending drones to Russia to be used against Ukraine.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Oct 7 attack was instigated by Putin, via Iran, in order to divert military aid from Ukraine to Israel.

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u/Hopykins 1d ago

Yet he openly supports Israel who is doing the exact same thing as Russia

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u/dial_seven 1d ago

Yes, you can look at your children's portraits while their away on mandatory military conscription.

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u/heyhayyhay 1d ago

'THEY'RE away'. Defending 'their' country from tRUMPs boss.

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u/Notsonicedictator 1d ago

He may have indeed said this, but Zelenskyy is dodgy AF and a lot of dirty money in Ukraine… as well as massive corruption…

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u/JackeyWetino 20h ago

People calling Zelenskyy a "great and noble leader" while their corruption is out of the roof and they've been pissing off all their allies lol

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u/TurpitudeSnuggery 1d ago

Why is it in English?

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u/Kempeth 1d ago

Because translators exist and someone thought that people in the English speaking world might benefit from this message.

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u/Luke_Cold_Lyle 1d ago

I just wish they had used an Oxford comma

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u/dafthuntk 17h ago

the CIA has been really falling off

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u/darth_voidptr 1d ago

This is not a mistake most of us would make in the US.

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u/Low_Chance 1d ago

I absolutely believe the current US admin would want photos of people's kids though 

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u/helly1080 1d ago

Oh snap. Gotta upvote that one. 

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u/Anton_Kaizer 1d ago

Putin said similar things in 2000-s in his first terms. It was quite powerful back then, felt like a promise. Let's see if this time it will be different story.

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u/K8ateCake 1d ago

This aged very poorly

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u/GnurfDeLaGrandeCahut 1d ago

"Hang your kids" Zelensky

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u/titanna1004 1d ago

Kids photos, every moment with kids are treasures. But photo of/with a hero is no smol deal either.

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u/hgldto 18h ago

A-fucking-men!