Following a phone call between Presidents Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House released a statement emphasizing Zelensky’s gratitude towards Trump. The statement repeated four times that Zelensky thanked Trump for his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia. This pattern of requesting explicit gratitude from allies shows a shift in the Trump administration’s approach to diplomacy. Michael Froman, the Council on Foreign Relations’ president, criticizes this transactional diplomacy.

Key points include Trump wanting gratitude from American allies, Zelensky scolded for not being thankful during a meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and Trump being softer with Russia. Previous presidents also wanted recognition for their support, but such friction typically happened behind closed doors. The current approach is defended by White House officials as a sign of respect and expectation of gratitude, especially when financial support is involved. Some in Trump’s cabinet have also started seeking thanks.

Other foreign leaders have taken notice, with NATO’s secretary general and Ireland’s prime minister adapting their thanks to Trump. Some of Trump’s cabinet members, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are also now soliciting for thanks. These events reflect a dominance display, where showing respect and payment is seen as necessary for protection.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/us/politics/trump-zelensky-foreign-diplomacy.html