Lou Holtz Praises Trump and Vance After Heated Exchange With Zelenskyy

College football icon Lou Holtz had high praise for former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance after a fiery exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the White House on Friday.

Holtz took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to commend Trump and Vance on their leadership. "It’s moments like these that remind us of what real leadership looks like," he wrote. "Proud of @realDonaldTrump & @JDVance for always putting America first."

The tense meeting reportedly revolved around the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Vance suggesting that the road to peace between Russia and Ukraine should include U.S.-led diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy, however, pushed back, questioning the historical context of Russia’s actions since 2014 and past attempts at diplomacy. The discussion turned heated when Zelenskyy stated that under war, "everybody has problems, even you," adding that the United States would feel the war's impact "in the future."

Trump countered Zelenskyy’s assertion, saying, "You're gambling with World War III. What you're doing is very disrespectful to this country — a country that has supported you more than many said it should." The intensity of the conversation reportedly escalated from there.

Zelenskyy later appeared on Fox News Channel’s "Special Report" and reflected on the encounter, saying, "I’m not sure we did something bad," but acknowledged the incident was "bad for both sides."

The debate didn’t just catch Holtz’s attention. NFL legend Brett Favre also weighed in on the controversy, calling the exchange "a bit unreal" in his reaction to a video of the argument. "A foreign leader speaking to a sitting U.S. President like this," Favre wrote. "Glad Donald Trump and JD Vance are standing up for America."

It’s not every day you see sports figures wading into geopolitical waters, but hey, if the world’s a stage, everyone wants a speaking part.