In a moment blending high-stakes diplomacy with his signature provocative style, former US President Donald Trump joked about bribing journalists with food during a critical meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The encounter took place on December 28, 2025, at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, aimed at advancing a US-proposed plan to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The 'Bribe' Banter and Press Jabs
As discussions paused, Trump turned his attention to the press corps. In a now-viral exchange, he referred to them as "fake news" and posed a sarcastic question. "Would you like to have food, or would you consider that a bribe?" Trump asked. He added, "And therefore you could not write honestly, or therefore you have to write a bad story."
After a moment of silence, one reporter finally answered, "Yes." Trump then signalled to his Communications Advisor, Margo Martin, to arrange for the journalist to be served lunch. He quipped that the gesture "should guarantee good stories. But it won't. They'll only get worse." The former president concluded the interaction by saying the press would "go out of their way to make them worse."
Focus on Ending the War: Progress and Thorny Issues
Striking a more serious tone earlier, Trump had emphasised to reporters that there was "nothing more important" to him than ending the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. He described his meeting with Zelenskyy as "terrific" and revealed an "excellent" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that lasted over two hours.
Expressing cautious optimism, Trump stated, "I do think we are getting a lot closer, maybe very close." He acknowledged, however, that a peace agreement, while near, still faced some unresolved "thorny" issues. The most significant sticking point remains territory, specifically the status of the eastern Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender.
"The land. Some of that land has been taken," Trump said, outlining the challenge. "You're better off making a deal now... Some of the land is being taken, some of the land may be up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months, and you’re better off making a deal now."
Meeting Context and Tense Moments
The high-profile meeting at Mar-a-Lago was convened to work on a potential pathway to peace as the war approaches its fourth year. According to reports, Trump also showed irritation during the press interaction, getting upset with what he deemed a "dumb question" from a journalist regarding security guarantees for Ukraine.
The event underscores the unconventional nature of Trump's diplomatic engagements, where moments of tense negotiation are interspersed with his characteristic media theatrics. The world now watches to see if the proclaimed progress can translate into a concrete and lasting peace deal for Ukraine.
