Briefly about the incident
After speeches at the Munich Conference, several American politicians criticized the current administration. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One, sharply commented on his opponents — Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hillary Clinton — and made personal judgments about their competence.
Quotes that drew attention
"I was watching Gavin Newsom answer questions in Munich. It made our country look bad... These two people (Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez) are incompetent"
— Donald Trump, President of the United States
"At least Hillary is competent, just crazy because of Trump. She was so unhinged. She's an evil woman"
— Donald Trump, President of the United States
How opponents responded
In their Munich speeches, opponents criticized the administration's approaches. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the consequences of current policies may be measured in years rather than decades, and questioned the effectiveness of the approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the political situation in the U.S. in her speech and urged Europeans to take signals from Washington more critically.
"[Trump] is a wounded dinosaur who will be even more dangerous after the midterm elections"
— Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State
Media also noted awkward moments in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's speech; the New York Post, in particular, pointed to a number of inaccuracies in her remarks.
Why this matters for Ukraine
In high diplomacy, decisions and their implementation matter more than loud statements. The disputes among American political figures at the Munich Conference signal domestic polarization that could complicate decision-making on defense and financial support for partners. For Ukraine this means: rhetoric affects the pace and format of support, but the key question is whether words will turn into budgetary decisions and deliveries.
Experts' reaction and outlook
Analysts note that the tone of the debates in Munich correlates with the political climate in the U.S. ahead of the midterm elections. If internal confrontation intensifies, partners will have to work harder to ensure strategic decisions remain outside short-term political tussles.
Conclusion
This is not just a verbal spat — it is an indicator of risks and opportunities for foreign policy. While rhetoric remains sharp, it is important that practical mechanisms for supporting Ukraine do not depend on waves of sentiment in U.S. domestic politics. The ball is now in the partners' court: will they be able to separate political emotions from decision-making on security?
Read more about the atmosphere of the Munich Conference and its consequences for international security in the report by LIGA.net's correspondent in Brussels.
