Now You See Me: Trump Edition

So, here we are again. Trump’s back on stage, and he’s got his favorite magic trick ready: pulling rabbits out of hats and making half the country wonder if it’s all a bad dream. What’s next? This time, his audience includes people who just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for the other side. Yep, it looks like they’d rather risk round two of Trump than let the Democrats keep the reins. Comforting thought, isn’t it?

And as much as we’d like to brush off his statements on Ukraine as classic election fluff, can we really afford to? Let’s be honest. Ukraine’s reality is no parlor trick. When Trump talks “deals” on Ukraine, it’s not about bringing peace at a bargain—it’s about what might be sacrificed along the way. A few of us are bracing ourselves, just in case.

Now, picture Putin sitting on Valdai Hill, grinning like he’s about to be invited back to the VIP club. Macron, meanwhile, is serving us food for thought, saying Europe can’t afford to let the “meat-eaters” take over. I guess that’s his way of saying it’s high time for Europe to guard its plate.

Then we have Zelenskyy, who—true to form—is already plotting out some innovative moves. He’s suggesting we take the $300 billion of Russia’s frozen assets and funnel it into Ukraine’s future. Just a little practical magic of his own.

But there’s more than one act in this show. While Trump’s been busy whipping up headlines, entire government agencies have been quietly loading up the narrative, making sure we get fed the right “facts” to justify his next big move. You know, like those viral stories that magically pop up when you least expect them. And then there’s James De Vance, "Ukraine’s American fan", almost like he wandered in from a Shakespeare play, cheering on Trump’s every move.

With Ukraine pushed to advance and “negotiate” all at once, it’s like being told to sprint and dance in circles at the same time. If anything, these mixed messages only make it clear that some Western leaders aren’t exactly ready to deliver full-on security for Ukraine.

Yet, if history’s taught us anything, it’s that resilience doesn’t need an invitation. Ukraine’s been fighting for its freedom long enough to know that this journey isn’t over. And by the way, America’s independence only happened because of a little help from France, back in the day. Now it’s Ukraine’s turn—with a few steadfast allies like the UK at its side.

Whatever act comes next, Ukraine stands ready.

Glory to Ukraine!