Trump’s Ukraine Flip Speaks to Ordinary Americans
For a while, Trump talked like Ukraine’s only option was to cut a deal with Russia. Trade land. Call it quits. Move on. Then he changed his tune. Standing with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said Ukraine could win the whole war. Not survive. Not settle. Win. That is a big flip, and it did not happen by accident.
“…Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act. In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!” – PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/YI0N4JF4ll
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 23, 2025
What I Mean by GenPop
When I say “GenPop,” I mean the general population. Regular folks who are not scrolling policy blogs or glued to hearings on Capitol Hill. They only get the soundbites the fake news pumps out while they are cooking dinner or driving home from work. So they see the war in simple terms. Russia invaded. Ukraine is fighting back. That makes Russia the bully and Ukraine the underdog. And let’s be honest — most people want the underdog to win. Especially when the other side is Russia, the same big ugly bad guy they have been watching play villain since the Cold War.
A Reminder of Trump’s Confidence
Remember when Trump used to say he could end the war in a single day? More speficially, on day one of his second term. He said it over and over, and people rolled their eyes. But it was his way of showing that he had no patience for endless foreign entanglements. That boast is worth keeping in mind now, because his latest comments are a shift in tone but not in confidence. He still talks like a man who believes he can steer this war toward an outcome on his terms.
Trump has never been shy about changing the tone of a fight, and Ukraine is no exception. His latest message took aim at Russia’s economic weakness while offering a curious mix of encouragement and hedging.
“Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump posted. “In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!”
Trump’s post marked the latest shift in rhetoric toward the war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Trump had been adamant that Zelensky would need to be willing to make territorial concessions as part of a peace agreement after Russian forces advanced into Ukraine over the past three years.
Trump met last month with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which yielded no specific progress toward peace. He later hosted Zelensky and European leaders at the White House to discuss potential security guarantees for Ukraine moving forward. – The Hill
And about that second peace summit everyone kept whispering about? The one where Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin might all sit down again? Yeah — that is not happening anytime soon.
Why Trump Shifted
Trump can read a room. His talk about cutting “deals” with Russia played well with the diehards, but it spooked ordinary voters. Most Americans may hate endless spending, but they also hate the idea of cheering for Putin. Democrats were salivating over that opening. They wanted to run every suburban district in 2026 with the slogan that Republicans side with dictators.
Trump shut that door. By saying Ukraine can win, he yanked away one of the Democrats’ easiest attack lines. He still gets to hammer Europe for freeloading, but he no longer hands Democrats a ready-made midterm ad painting him as pro-Russia. This pivot is not just about Ukraine. It is about the ballot box.
So if they’re not voting on Trump, how does this even matter?
Good question. Most ordinary voters won’t cast a vote on Trump. But they will vote on senators, representatives, governors — and their view of Trump sets the tone for every Republican running under his banner.
If every GOP candidate in a swing district is trying to defend themselves against “soft on Russia” attacks, Trump’s new posture forces them into more defensible ground. He gives them a shield: “Hey, my party leader just stood with Zelenskyy — so don’t tell me I’m siding with Putin.”
Also, most voters don’t dig deep. They see headlines. If those headlines stop saying “GOP sides with Russia,” and instead read “Trump says Ukraine can win,” that changes the backdrop they’re absorbing. It’s not about him personally; it’s about the shell game of inference.
Finally, this shift gives moral cover. For moderates and skeptics, it’s easier to swallow Ukraine support when key voices in your party are saying it’s okay. That can tilt enough undecided voters in tight districts to matter.
Pressure from Abroad
Do not forget the Europeans. NATO leaders were uneasy every time Trump hinted at quick peace deals. They wanted a stronger line. By backing Zelenskyy, Trump gave them something to work with. And he did it without signing a check. Classic Trump.
Does It Last
Here is the real question: will it stick? Trump has never been shy about flipping his words depending on the crowd. He might pivot again if the polls shift or the war drags on. But right now, the flip works. It keeps him in step with ordinary Americans and takes away one of the Democrats’ favorite talking points.
Zelenskyy did not fly home with new weapons or piles of cash, but he did leave with a headline: Trump says Ukraine can win. For the average voter who does not overthink foreign policy, that sounds just about right.
This is An Americanist. No spin. All spine.
Feature Image: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons/edited in Canva Pro
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