Liz Cheney Fundraises Off Explosive Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Clash

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is using the dramatic fallout from last week’s Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a rallying cry to fundraise for her political group, Our Great Task. Her latest email to donors pulls no punches, accusing Trump and his allies of being "tools of the Kremlin." If subtlety were a sport, Cheney clearly isn’t playing.

The email blasts Trump's alleged "appeasement" of Russian President Vladimir Putin, framing it as a betrayal of NATO’s legacy and American leadership since World War II. Cheney didn’t mince words when calling out Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and even Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk, claiming their actions undermine democracy and side with Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. "Only naive fools—or tools of the Kremlin—would abandon NATO, side with Russia, and demand Ukraine surrender," Cheney stated bluntly.

She closed the fiery email with an urgent plea for donations, urging supporters to help elect leaders "of courage and honor" to stand against those she accuses of undermining U.S. values. It’s safe to say Cheney’s fundraising strategy here is bold—probably as bold as the clash she’s criticizing.

The Oval Office meeting that sparked this political firestorm was anything but ordinary. Zelenskyy, in Washington to finalize a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral profits, found himself in a heated verbal exchange with U.S. officials, including Vance. Trump reportedly accused Zelenskyy of escalating tensions toward World War III, while Zelenskyy pushed for stronger security commitments from the U.S. The meeting ended abruptly, with Zelenskyy being shown the door—an exit as dramatic as the confrontation itself.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Zelenskyy’s demands "ridiculous" during a weekend interview, signaling little sympathy for the Ukrainian leader’s position. The blowup has further fractured an already shrinking number of Republicans who support continued aid to Ukraine. Some GOP figures, like Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., publicly criticized Trump and Vance, comparing their stance to Cold War-era Soviet appeasement. Others, however, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., backed Trump’s handling of the situation, even suggesting Zelenskyy should consider stepping aside.

Meanwhile, Cheney’s email underscores just how polarizing these debates have become within the GOP—and beyond. Her invocation of NATO's historical successes and sharp rebukes of Trump’s foreign policy choices aim to cast her as a defender of democracy at a time when the U.S.’s role in global affairs feels increasingly contested.

When asked about Cheney’s remarks, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly’s curt response of "Who?" added a pinch of salt to the already simmering political stew. If nothing else, Cheney’s email proves she’s not backing down from her mission to hold Trump and his allies accountable. Whether her rhetoric will resonate—or backfire—remains to be seen.