Donald Trump is fueling speculation that his explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was strategically planned, reposting an analysis by a martial arts instructor who called the confrontation a “brilliant setup.”
Trump’s ‘Master Chess Player’ Moment?
Trump, who spent Sunday golfing in West Palm Beach, shared a post from Michael McCune, an Arizona karate instructor, who argued that the fiery meeting was no accident. Instead, McCune framed it as a strategic power move, designed to pressure Zelensky into accepting Trump’s terms.
“What you witnessed tonight was a setup,” McCune wrote. “Trump and JD Vance knew the only way to achieve peace was to strategically align—at least on the surface—with Russia. Why? Because Russia would never sign a peace treaty if Ukraine were admitted into NATO.”
Trump shared McCune’s analysis on Truth Social, omitting McCune’s full credentials and Facebook page, but the original post remains online.
Zelensky ‘Backed Into a Corner’
McCune’s post further claimed that Trump’s actions were actually protecting Ukraine while avoiding direct U.S. involvement in war.
“Now, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump’s terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the U.S. into war,” McCune wrote.
He also pointed to a rare earth minerals deal that was reportedly negotiated before the White House blow-up but left unsigned. The deal, McCune suggested, would have secured American investment in Ukraine’s mining industry, making it riskier for Russia to launch an attack that could harm U.S. interests.
“Trump played both sides like a master chess player,” McCune concluded. “In the end, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to concede… And once U.S. companies have mining operations in Ukraine, Putin will be unable to attack without triggering massive international consequences.”
White House Denies Planned ‘Tag Team’ Attack
The Biden White House denied any pre-planned ambush of Zelensky, though some within Trump’s orbit hinted otherwise. Sen. Lindsey Graham admitted he warned Zelensky in advance not to take Trump’s bait, suggesting he expected a confrontation.
McCune, who described himself as a student of martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, claims he realized the setup was intentional when JD Vance joined in the attack.
“The way Vance chimed in was uncharacteristic,” he said. “That’s when it clicked—something else was going on.”
Since his post went viral, McCune’s Facebook following jumped from a few hundred to over 24,000.
Trump’s Shift on Ukraine Sparks International Reaction
While Trump and Vice President JD Vance doubled down on pressuring Zelensky, key U.S. allies are growing uneasy. Some fear Russia may escalate its attacks now that Ukraine appears isolated from its most powerful backer.
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump, saying “he keeps politics interesting” and remains focused on “making America great again.”
Meanwhile, U.S. officials are divided over Ukraine’s future. House Speaker Mike Johnson questioned whether Zelensky could remain in power if he failed to repair his fractured relationship with Trump. And Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, tore into Zelensky’s government, accusing it of undemocratic practices like canceling elections and suppressing opposition.
The tensions come as Ukraine struggles to hold its ground, with NATO allies wavering on further support. With Trump reshaping the U.S. stance on Russia and Ukraine, global leaders are left wondering—is this the start of a major geopolitical shift?
