Trump Jr. slams Zelensky over foreign aid; US debate on Ukraine funding intensifies

Former US President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “the ungrateful queen of foreign aid.” He asserted this in a column for his own newspaper, framing Zelensky as someone unappreciative of the financial support provided by American taxpayers and allied partners. The remark was sparked by a reaction to a Washington Examiner report suggesting that Zelensky might ask Congress to approve roughly $45 billion in aid to Kiev for 2023, a figure that critics say may stretch the U.S. budget and public tolerance for ongoing funding in the region. The exchange highlighted a broader debate in North America about how to balance humanitarian and strategic commitments with fiscal realities and domestic priorities. The claim also touched on the role of media narratives in shaping perceptions of foreign aid and accountability across governments and their publics.