Trump Sparks Outrage After Praising ‘Beautiful’ Ukrainian Women During High-Stakes War Talks

Donald Trump once again raised eyebrows after reportedly turning a serious White House summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into an awkward detour about beauty pageants and “beautiful” women — even as Ukraine remains locked in a brutal war.

According to a behind-the-scenes account published by The New York Times, the moment unfolded during an August sit-down between Trump, now serving as president, and Zelensky, 47. The meeting was described as far calmer than their tense Oval Office clash earlier this year, as both leaders were attempting to repair a strained relationship.

But the tone reportedly shifted when Trump, 79, began reminiscing about his time as owner of the Miss Universe pageant. He told aides that contestants from Ukraine “were often the most beautiful,” adding bluntly, “Ukrainian women are beautiful.”

Zelensky quickly replied with a dry comeback: “I know, I married one.”

From there, Trump allegedly steered the conversation toward longtime friend Phil Ruffin, a Las Vegas billionaire who married former Miss Ukraine Oleksandra Nikolayenko at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in 2008, with Trump serving as best man. Ruffin was 72 at the time; Nikolayenko was 26.

Trump reportedly called Ruffin during the meeting and asked him to put Nikolayenko on the phone, then handed his device to Zelensky. According to the Times, the room “went on pause” for 10 to 15 minutes as the two spoke in Ukrainian.

Nikolayenko later recalled discussing relatives still living in Odesa, noting that Zelensky seemed surprised they hadn’t fled the city. One unnamed official said the mood shifted as laughter broke out and “a human connection” briefly took hold.

The anecdote surfaced as Trump continues his controversial push to position himself as a broker in the Ukraine-Russia war. He met privately with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 28, days before making a baffling public remark suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Ukraine to “succeed.”

Trump’s fixation on beauty pageants has long followed him into politics. He purchased the Miss Universe Organization in 1996, controlling Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA for nearly two decades. The pageants doubled as branding vehicles and television properties, eventually airing through NBC. After NBC cut ties with Trump in June 2015, he bought out the network’s stake and sold the organization to WME/IMG shortly afterward.

That era also came with disturbing allegations. In October 2016, former Miss Teen USA contestants told BuzzFeed News that Trump had walked into their dressing room while they were undressed. Some said they were as young as 15 and described the experience as “shocking” and “creepy.”

That same year, former Miss Utah Temple Taggart alleged Trump kissed her during Miss USA-related events, leaving her “shocked.” Trump has denied sexual assault allegations and disputed the claims made against him.